Falgun 19, 1420 Jamadiul Awal 1, 1435 Regd. No.

DA 6238 Vol 1 No 339

MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2014

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B1 | BANGABANDHU SATELLITE SOON

7 | SANTINIKETAN: AN ABODE OF PEACE

8 | LIMITED US OPTIONS IN UKRAINE

14 | FEDERER DOWNS BERDYCH

DU science faculties fail to retain students

Around 50% either switch to other disciplines or fail to carry on
n Ahmed Zayeef
Nearly 50% students in the various science related departments in the Dhaka University manage to finish their graduation in the stipulated time, while the rest either fall behind or change their discipline of study altogether for various reasons. A total of 140 students enrolled in the physics department under the science faculty in 2008-09 academic session. However, only 61 of them successfully finished their graduation after the stipulated four years. The faculty and the department offices only have information about the students that pass out successfully; but do not have any idea or record about those who leave the department or drop out. Talking to some of the students from that batch, the Dhaka Tribune has learnt that 15 of their classmates attended fresh admission tests and joined other departments. Of the remaining 64, a handful dropped out while most others failed to pass the year final examinations and fell back. In the same academic session, 75 students got admission in the botany department under the Biological Sciences Faculty. Only 32 of them passed the honours final examination successfully in the stipulated four years time. Among the rest, 20 changed their departments and 23 failed in the various year final examinations. A number of students and teachers of these department have said there are several reasons for this low percentage of emergence. For those who pass the High Secondary Certificate (HSC) examinations with science major, Buet and the public medical colleges are the top priorities for higher education. Most of those who fail to get admission in Buet or the med schools, join the science disciplines at the Dhaka University. Some of these students reattempt the engineering and medical admission examinations, come out successful and leave the DU. There are other students, who, after doing a few classes in the science subjects, decide to migrate to the various
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Pakistan win a cliff-hanger

n Minhaz Uddin Khan
An emphatic knock by Shahid Afiridi aided Pakistan pick one wicket victory in the high-voltage game against their arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. Chasing 246, Pakistan needed 13 off the last two overs with four wickets in hand. But three dismissals - two in the 49th and one in the 50th - had Pakistan in trouble. But Afridi who is not amongst runs stood up for his team, slammed two sixes off Ravichandran Ashwin to cruise his side home.

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Pakistan wicket-keeper Umar Akmal tries in vain to run out Indian batsman Ravindra Jadeja during the latters brisk inninng of 52 out of Indias total of 245 runs in 50 overs. Pakistan chased the total down with one wicket and two to spare MUMIT M Pakistan has been unsuccessful chasing 250 runs around in the last 12 games. This had put the sides chances in doubt on pen and paper and because of the pressure that they had in the game for India being the opponents. But the openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shahzad got the side off to a smooth run posting 71 runs. The partnership was broken Ashwin off a carrom ball followed by a loose stroke from Sharjeel as his front foot hardly moved and he just went at the ball with his hands. Four overs after that, Amit Mishra laid the blow dismissing Shahzad on 42 off 44. This was followed by Pakistan captain Misbah-Ul-Haqs run-out of confusion in the middle with Mohammad Hafeez in the 17th over and of Umar Akmals in the 23rd leaving Pakistan on 113 for 4. Hafeez however posted 75 off 117 ball hitting three fours and two
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Ukraine mobilises after Putins declaration of war

n Reuters
Ukraine mobilised for war yesterday and Washington threatened to isolate Russia economically, after President Vladimir Putin declared he had the right to invade his neighbour, creating Moscows biggest confrontation with the West since the Cold War. This is not a threat: this is actually the declaration of war to my country, Ukraines Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk, head of a pro-Western government that took power when Russian ally Viktor Yanukovich fled last week, said. Putin obtained permission from his parliament on Saturday to use military force to protect Russian citizens in Ukraine, spurning Western pleas not to intervene. Russian forces have already bloodlessly seized Crimea - an isolated Black Sea peninsula where Moscow has a naval base. They surrounded several small Ukrainian military outposts there and demanded the Ukrainian troops disarm. Some refused, leading to standoffs, although no shots were fired. Russia has staged war games with 150,000 troops along the land border, but so far they have not crossed. However, pro-Russian demonstrators have marched in the east of the country and
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BCL clash leaves 15 injured in JU n Mahadi Al Hasnat

At least fifteen students were injured as two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were locked in a clash on Jahangirnagar University campus over non-payment of food bill yesterday. The leaders and activists from both sides traded several rounds of bullets during the clash while one received bullet injury. Witnesses said around 50 Chhatra League activists of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall loyal to JU unit Organising Secretary Faisal Hossain Dipu denied paying bills after having lunch at Dhaka Biriani and Chotpoti House adjacent to Zahir Raihan auditorium yesterday around 1:30pm. Lavlu, the shop owner, brought the
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Chhatra League goes back to violent past

n Emran Hossain Shaikh
Only one and a half months into the second consecutive tenure of the Awami League government, its student front Chhatra League has indulged in more than a dozen violence in several institutions much to the embarrassment of the government. Most of the Awami League Leaders are upset at the violent activities of Chhatra League saying that the student wing in the previous five-year tenure of the party marred all excellent initiatives of the government. They said if the government failed to reign in its student wing it would have to pay dearly. They, however, said the prime minister was concerned about the matter and she would take necessary steps like that of the punishment meted out to the Biswajit killers. Leaders and activists of the Chhatra League during the regime of the immediate past government [2009-2014] were involved in mindless violence, extortion and killing. At that time, their mindless acts killed at least 10 people including a tailor Biswajit Das that shocked the public conscience. On the 25th day after the government headed by Sheikh Hasina was formed on January 12, 2014, a group of Chhatra League men launched an attack on Rajshahi University students who were agitating against additional fees and evening Masters Degree Courses.
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INSIDE
News
3 The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) is set to conduct a special drive to evict illegal establishments, such as slums, permanent or temporary houses, and shops near public hospitals. 4 Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society has urged the government to appoint orthopaedicians at districtlevel hospitals as the patient load at the capitals National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) Hospital had risen significantly over the last few years. younger generation of the Banshfor people in Natore, an ethnic community commonly known as Harijans, and the adult members are also struggling to find jobs.

Op-Ed

11 As an adult, almost everyone has to face the question can you find out more about that particular girl or boy? Its related to a marriage proposal.

Entertainment

Nation

6 Obtaining higher education has become a challenge for

12 Oscar winning Indian composer and singer AR Rahman and Senegalese American R&B and hip hop icon Akon are set to enchant the audience of Dhaka on March 13 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

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4097 owners in city flouts Rajuk law

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, March 3, 2014

Some government organisations too not lagging behind before buildings are constructed and if n Tribune Report the owner wants to change the design
Minister of Housing and Public Works Engineer Mosharraf Hossain yesterday presented a list of 4097buildingownerswho did not follow the approved design of the Rajdhan iUnnayan Kartipakkha in the capital. Even some government organisations like City Centre of Dhaka City Corporation, National Shooting Federation of Gulsan,Jamuna Oil, JanashankaBhabon of Azimpurflouted building designs approved by the Rajuk. The minister submitted the list while answering to a question of Awami League Lawmaker AKM Rahmatullah in the question-answer session presided over by Speaker ShirinSharminChaudhury. According to housing ministers list a number of prominent people have built their structures by changing the approved Rajuk design. Among the unauthorised buildings, 1022 are under authorised officer-1, 560 are under authorised officer-2, 1070 are under authorised officer-2, 1410 are under authorised officer-3 and 595 are under authorised officer-4. According to Rajuk laws, all building owners must have to approve the design of their structures from the Rajuk

they have to get it reapproved otherwise it would fall into the category of unauthorised buildings. In answer to the second part of the question about the action on the unauthorised structures the minister said it was routine work of the government to remove unauthorised structures. Keari Limited of Mir Kasem Ali, Nardan International Medical College, ENA Properties of Emamul Haque MP, Sheltech Development, Tropical Homes, Managing Director of East-West Properties, Navana Real Estate, Concord Consortium, Subastu Development Ltd, Nagor Homes, Rangs Properties, Amin Mohammad Foundation, Shahabuddin Medical College, Rupnogor Real Estate, Concord Engineers Ltd, IDDL, Hyperion Development Ltd, Rupayon Housing, SEL, Mission Developers, Majumder Developers, Dom Inno, ANZ Properties, Green Delta Housing, H B M Iqbal, Eastern Housing, Nitol Group, Ad-Din Hospital, Crescent Holdings Ltd, Star Kabab of Dhanmondi-2, Former MP Moazzen Hossain Alal, Fazlul Haque Milon, Alamgir Kabir are, among other,the prominent persons and organisationsthat have changed the designs of their structures with the approval of the Rajuk. l

Armed activists from two factions of Bangladesh Chhatra League engage in a clash on Jahangirnagar University campus yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

HC summons Prothom Alo joint editor n Nazmus Sakib

The High Court yesterday ordered Prothom Alo Joint Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan to appear in person before it on March 6 to explain his position regarding his writings published on the Bengali daily on granting anticipatory bail. It also issued a rule seeking explanations from the newspapers Editor Matiur Rahman and Mizanur the same day as to why they should not be punished for contempt of court for publishing two such columns. The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed, on its own motion, passed the order as Mizanur in one of his articles directly criticised the bench for granting anticipatory bail indiscriminately. l

Chhatra League goes back to violent past

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Soon after the occurrence the Chhatra League central committee expelled three of its activists of the RU Unit. On February 22, Chhatra Leagues internecine clash left 22 of its activists injured in Azam Khan Commerce College in Khulna. Besides, on February 19 and 20 Chhatra League men attacked the administrative office of Rokeya University as their candidates of choice were not appointed as employees. Earlier, on January 30, Rokeya University unit Chharta League assaulted its rival student wing Chhatra Dal activists. On Monday some female activists of Chhatra League Badrunnesa College unit manhandled an activist of Chharta Dal of the same institution and the same day a case was filed against two Chhatra League leaders of Manikganj for abducting a college girl. When asked about the violent acts

of Chhatra League Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader said his government was hell-bent on taking action against miscreants, no matter if he belongs to his party or not. Referring to the judgment on Biswajit murderer he said those involved in violence in Rajshahi University would not go unpunished. Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, also in charge of Chharta League, said: The party several times has been embarrassed for their anti-organisational activities. When contacted Siddique Nazmul Alam, General Secretary of Chharta League Central Committee, said that they were victims of politics of another party. He said that they were taking organisational action against the culprits. We are expelling those involved in terrorism and dissolving the committees that indulge in such anti-organisa-

tional activities, he said. However, Siddique Najmul Alam too reportedly threatened a government official of the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS) with dire consequence if he did not give him the job worth Tk20 crore of supplying medicine and surgical instrument to hospitals. Sources said Najmul along with another Chhatra League leader went to the director of the hospital and clinic of the DGHS Professor ABM Abdul Hannan on February 17 and put pressure on him to allocate the job in favour of him without tender. After the incident, Dr ABM Abdul Hannan brought the matter to the notice of Health Minister Mohammad Nasim. The Chhatra League secretary however denied the allegation Nothing happened with the director of the DGHS. I went there with a request for one of my neighbours but I have not bargained with him. he said. l

HC halts Sonargaon resort project

n Tribune Report
The High Court yesterday issued an injunction notice against the development of Sonargaon Resort City project of Unique Property Development Limited in Narayanganj. Moreover, the court ordered the company to restore the land to its previous position before earth-filling and the firms managing director to submit a report in two months regarding compliance of the order. The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Chowdhury and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order in response to a writ petition filed on Thursday by Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA). According to the website of Unique Properties, the project area is near the bank of River Meghna and the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Sonargaon. Ikbal Kabir, lawyer for the petitioner, said 210 bighas out of total 2,350 bigha project area had been filled up. The court also issued a rule asking as to why the project should not be declared illegal. The housing and public works secretary, land secretary, environment secretary, director general of Department of Environment, Sonargaon Upazila Nirbahi Officer, managing director of Unique properties and five others were asked to respond to the rule within four weeks. l

Pakistan win a cliff-hanger

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Ukraine mobilises
missed the timbers though the HawkEye suggested leg stump was striking. The second was when Hafeez had opportunity to remove him four overs later on 12. A high top-edge from Jadeja who was attempting to sweep against the spin, was dropped by Hafeez on his own delivery with just few steps from the bowling crease. These had allowed Jadeja score his next 40 runs off 24 balls and got his ninth half-century. However amongst all the runs from the Indian batters, Saeed Ajmal capped a fine day with wickets. Though he was wicketless for most of the game, he ended reaping three wickets in his death-spell. Indias middle order had failed to pick his doosra. This aided other Pakistani bowlers reap rewards. Debutant Mohammad Talhas two wickets came as he bowled in tandem with Ajmal. Hafeez also claimed Dinesh Karthiks scalp, in the 37th over, while Ajmal operated at the other end. Ajmal conceded 40 from his 10 overs. l
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Charge sheet in Lalkhan madrasa blast case accepted

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
A Chittagong court yesterday accepted the charge sheet pressed against Hefazat-e-Islam Nayeb-e-Ameer Mufti Izharul Islam Chowdhury, his son Harun Izhar and seven others in a case regarding blasts the Lalkhan Bazar madrasa in the port city on October 7 last year. After taking the charge sheet into cognisance, Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge SM Mojibur Rahman fixed March 27 for holding a hearing on the charge framing matter in the explosives case, Omar Fuad, bench assistant of the court, said. Khulshi police submitted the charge sheet to the court on February 10. During the order, seven of the accused were produced before the court. An accused is on the run while another is on bail, he said. At least three people were killed and several others injured in the explosions that took place at a dormitory of Jamiatul Uloom Al-Islamia Madrasa, of which Mufti Izhar is the principal, around 11am on October 7 last year. Later police recovered three hand grenades, huge materials for making grenades and 18 bottles of picric acid used to amplify the magnitude of explosion. Three cases including one for murder were lodged with Khulshi police. l

sixes. Middle order batsman Shoaib Maqsood also aided with 38 runs before he became the second run out in the innings and this time it was Afridi on the other end. Umar Gul added 12 to the board before losing his wicket to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The dismissals had Pakistan reeling on 235 for 8 and saw two more wickets Mohammad Talha and Saeed Ajmal both on ducks and turn the atmosphere at Mirpur nail-biting. Last batsman Junaid Khan was in the middle when Pakistan needed another 10 runs off 5 balls. He scored a single but a vital one as it had given the strike back to Afridi. Afridi took the charge and finished the game with two balls to spare hitting back to back maximums. Earlier, India were sent to bat first after Pakistan won the toss. The start was never smooth after India lost opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan (10) in the

second over. He was pinned in front of the stumps by Hafeez as Dhawan tried to play off the back foot. India reeling on 56 runs lost the second wicket and this time it was Virat Kohli. The Indian skipper had an unresponsive start before he practically gifted his wicket away scoring five runs. Kohli ran a safe short ball off Umar Gul in the 10th over off the face of the bat and into the keepers gloves. But the loss didnt hamper the Indian innings in the high-voltage clash as the innings had three half centuries to revive from. Opener Rohit Sharmas 58ball 56 gave the initial thrust followed by Ambati Rayudus 58 in the middle of the innings. The third unbeaten 52 off 49 from Ravindra Jadeja powered the total towards a comfort zone followed by two chances one from the umpire and the second gifted by his arch-rivals. He was first reprieved on 7 after umpire felt Mohammad Hafeez delivery

have raised Russian flags over government buildings in several cities, in what Kiev says is a move orchestrated by Moscow to justify a wider invasion. Ukraines security council ordered the general staff to immediately put all armed forces on highest alert. The Defence Ministry was ordered to stage a call-up of reserves - theoretically all men up to 40 in a country with universal male conscription, though Ukraine would struggle to find extra guns or uniforms for significant numbers of them. US Secretary of State John Kerry condemned Russia for what he called an incredible act of aggression and threatened very serious repercussions. Kerry said Moscow still had a right set of choices to defuse the crisis. Otherwise, G8 countries and other nations were prepared to go to the hilt to isolate Russia. They are prepared to isolate Russia economically. The rouble is already going down. Russia has major economic challenges. l

BCL clash leaves

PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

DU science faculties fail to retain students

PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

departments under the Arts, Commerce and Social Sciences Faculties. Some of them decide to do so because they realise that the subject they have chosen is not right for them. Disciplines like pure or theoretical physics and chemistry are mainly meant for those who wish to do research in future. However, since there is very limited scope of research in DU, or for that matter anywhere else in Bangladesh, many students realise that they will have to go abroad for doing research. Those who do not have the financial means to go abroad, often have to settle for teaching jobs at schools, colleges and universities a choice which conflicts with the ambitions of many students. Many students explore alternate education options when they realise this. Professor Anwar Hossain from the microbiology department told the Dhaka Tribune: These departments are fully research oriented. But we do not have much job opportunity to at-

tract the students. Most pharmaceutical companies taking product patent from outside and produce drugs. They do not have research and development wings. On the other hand, the government research institutes such as BCSIR and Nuclear Energy Commission do not have sufficient funds to engage DU science students for handsome salaries. When a student started to realise these barriers, they get frustrated, Professor Anwar said. The heavy load of study also discourages many students. In some of the departments, students have to remain busy with classes and practical sessions for six to seven hours a day. Moreover, the syllabi are immense in size. Those who cannot cope up with the pressure often seek admission in the departments under the other faculties because of the common perception that life is much easier in the departments under the Arts, Commerce and Social Sciences faculties. SM Imamul Haque, professor of

the Soil, Water and Environment department, said: We are having this students through a weak admission system. Only the GPA of SSC, HSC and an MCQ-based admission test cannot judge a student properly. We also have to know about his communication skills and extracurricular activities. So, we need a change in the admission system to find the best students. Professor Yousuf Ali said: Students study science with the help of private tutors, coaching centre and guidebooks at the line in secondary and higher secondary education levels. As a result, they do not get the strong base needed for pursuing science subjects. Eventually, when they get admitted to the university, they cannot cope up with the vast and comparatively hard syllabus. On the contrary, students accuse some of the teachers of insincerity. Some of them alleged that many teachers neglect their duties at the public universities and pay more attention to their engagements with private univer-

sities because they get better payments there. Tofial Azam, a postgrad student of statistics, told the Dhaka Tribune: Shortage of adroit teachers is the main reason behind students failing to get promotion. Moreover, the fact that there is very little subject-related job in the market also hamper the students interests in studying. Nasreen Ahmed, pro vice-chancellor (education) of DU, said: The authority often raise these points for discussion at the meeting of the deans committee. But the deans of the various faculties never discuss these issues in the forum. I will try to find out more about the alarming pass rate. Educationist Jamilur Reja Chowdhury said: Students who are doing well in engineering and anywhere else come through the existing secondary and higher secondary education system. So, we cannot accuse students. Teachers have to find the reason why students are changing departments and why they cannot pass in the examinations. l

matter to the notice of JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel. After that Rasel university unit Chhatra League President Mahmudur Rahman Jony sat with Dipu to solve the matter. During the meeting supporters of Rasel and Dipu swooped on each other with machetes, iron pipes and rods, wooden stick and other native weapons. University Proctor Prof Muzibur Rahman then visited the spot but failed to calm down feuding Chhatra League men. Geography Department student Rezaul Karim Rochi, archaeology Department student Asaduzzaman Ashik and International Relationship Department student Jahid Hasan were stabbed with sharp weapons during the clash. All three injured were loyal to JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rasel. After an hour around 4pm several hundred Chhatra League activists from different dormitories of the university loyal to Rasel launched an attack on Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall. The Chhatra League men loyal to Dipu from Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall also attacked them with brick chips and stones from the rooftop of the dorm

while Rasels men fired several round of bullets. The activists of Mosharraf Hossain Hall also fired 5-6 rounds of bullets. Geography Department student Nehal received bullet injury to his left leg during the gunshots. Police brought the situation under control around 5pm. Savar circle ASP Russel Sheikh told the Dhaka Tribune: It was a factional clash of university unit Chhatra League. All students were sent back to their dorms and police were deployed on the campus. Among the injured condition of Mohitosh Roy Titu was critical and he was sent to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, source said. JU unit Chhatra League General Secretary Rasel told the Dhaka Tribune: Chhatra Dal activists of Mosharraf Hossain Hall were creating chaos and demanding extortion from food stall in the name of Chhatra League. While contacted for comment, JU unit Chhatra League Organising Secretary Faisal Hossain Dipu was unavailable over his cell phone despite several attempts. JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam said the situation was under control and steps would be taken against the miscreants according to the recommendation of the disciplinary committee of the university. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, March 3, 2014

Public hospitals to get clean surroundings

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) is set to conduct a special drive to evict illegal establishments, such as slums, permanent or temporary houses, shops and business, near public hospitals in the capital. It was learnt that illegal establishments had seized huge areas of the various public hospitals in the capital. High officials from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) told the Dhaka Tribune that some 145 acres of land of the directorate in the capitals Mohakhali had been occupied by illegal establishments for many years. Health and Family Welfare Mohammad Nasim had recently directed high officials of the ministry to compile a list of illegal establishments at public hospitals and organise a special drive to evict them as soon as possible. The ministry is also set to hold a meeting today in this regard. The meeting, which will be presided by health minister, is also expected to be attended by State Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan. The meeting will decide on the schedule of the special drive for the eviction. Mosharrof Hossain, joint secretary for hospital and clinic at the Health Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that the ministry would conduct a special drive very soon at every all public hospital in Dhaka. Ministry sources also said authorities from different public hospitals, such as the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) and Sir Salimullah Medical College and Midford Hospital, had already sent their list of illegal establishments. There are allegations that a vested quarter, which includes several ruling party leaders, had been coining crores by sheltering slum, shanties, and other commercial establishments on government land. These illegal establishments are now being inhabited by several thousands of people, who have been long using state services, such as water, gas and electricity connections, without paying any bills. In September 2009, the Ministry of Public Administration issued an order giving magistracy power to seven senior health secretaries to conduct an eviction drive at the Mohakali Health Zone. However, the eviction drive has never took place. According to the Ministry of Health, only 34.5 acres of land out of the total 145 remain free from illegal settlement. In a recent assessment by the Ministry of Land, the illegally occupied lands were valued at nearly Tk35 billion. Sources said, the real price of these grabbed lands could be three to four times higher than estimated. Applauding the ministers initiative to conduct special eviction drives, DMCH Director Brigadier General Mustafizur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that many illegal shops and other establishments had clogged the emergency gate of the hospital for a very long time. He also said he found no response from the Dhaka City Corporation and the local police station even after sending several letters in this regard. It was also learnt that a group of unscrupulous officials and employees from the health department had constructed hundreds of illegal structures on government land, citing a shortage in employee housing. Local residents of affected areas complained drug cartels and other criminal activities take place at these illegal slums. They also said criminal rackets from the slums also control various supply sources for these hospitals, including medical equipment, medicine, food and ambulance services. l

School children take part in the National Flag Day celebrations on Dhaka University campus yesterday

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Ruhal, Mahbubur to be issued ACC notice

n Tribune Report
The Anti-Corruption Commission will soon seek wealth statements from three Awami League leaders, including two former ministers, and members of their families on charge of accumulating illegal wealth. The anti-graft body yesterday approved the notices for issuing upon former health minister AFM Ruhal Haque, former state minister for water resources Mahbubur Rahman and Rajshahi 4 constituency lawmaker Enamul Haque to know the reasons behind phenomenal rise of their wealth and assets, an official said. In the notice to Ruhal Haque, the ACC asked for wealth statements from the former minister, his wife Ila Haque and son Ziaul Haque. Along with Mahbubur, his wife Preeti Rahman and their son will have to respond to the notice while the other notice addressing Enamul states that his wife would have to submit statements on all their movable and immovable properties before the commission. During primary inquiry, the ACC investigators have found that their wealth is inconsistent with the known sources of income, for which, the officials have recommended seeking wealth statement from the three. The commission on January 22 assigned seven of its officials to probe into the wealth of seven ruling party leaders three former ministers, three current lawmakers and a former MP following newspaper reports that highlighted large discrepancies between the wealth information they had provided to the Election Commission before the 2008 and 2013 parliamentary elections. l

BGB: No official report on Felani case

n Ahmed Zayeef
Border Guard Bangladesh Director General Major General Aziz Ahmed yesterday said the BGB had no official information on Felani killing case and the Border Security Force of India did not inform it about the progress of the case. We do not have any official information on Felani killings case, he said this at a press conference at the BGB headquarters in the capital. Felani, the 15-year-old girl was shot dead at the BSF Choudhuryhat Camp as she was trying to cross the barbed-wire fence at Anantapur border point in Kurigrams Phulbarhi upazila in 2011. We will seek progress report on the Felani murder case in a DG-level meeting between India and Bangladesh scheduled to be held in April, said Aziz. On Jan 7 Felani Khatun was shot dead on her way back to Bangladesh. Her body was left hanging from the fence for quite a while. The killing had provoked huge outrage in both Bangladesh and India. After that a special court set up by the BSF found its 181 Battalion Constable Amiya Ghosh, accused of killing Felani, not guilty of the murder. In the wake of widespread criticism for the acquittal the BSF decided to revise the murder trial. The BGB authorities invited journalists at 11am but they took 27 more munities to start the press conference as the director general did not turn up on time. He, however, apologised for his late at the beginning of his speech. The BGB chief claimed that border killing had been coming down gradually over the last few years. Only three people have died in bordering areas this year whereas a total of 28 people were killed in 2013, 34 in 2012 and 39 in 2011. The mind-set of the BSF, BGB and the people living in the border areas have to be changed in order to bring the border killing to zero level, he said. We are yet to get the desired cooperation from India in this regard. he said. About Myanmar and Indias support in curbing smuggling, he said: There is a huge communication gap with Myanmar and we are trying to get closer. Answering a query about BDR mutiny Aziz said: Discipline is the main factor here and strong law is a must to avoid such incidents. The law has been reformed in this regard. l

New pay scale unlikely this year

n Asif Showkat Kallol
The National Pay and Services Commission 2014 will not be able to place its recommendations in the stipulated six months time, commission chairman and former central bank governor Mohammad Farashuddin has said. None of the previous pay commissions managed to submit report even in 15-16 months, Farashuddin told reporters after the first meeting of the commission in the capital yesterday without giving any hint about exactly how much time would be needed for finalising recommendations. However, a source from the meeting said the commission would take about two years for recommending amendments to the existing pay structure for the government employees. Yesterdays meeting also reportedly discussed the fact that in India, new pay scales were announced every two years. The government formed the 17-member pay commission on November 24 last year and issued an order for it to place its recommendations within six months starting from December last year and ending this May. However, the order also said that the commission could take more time if needed, for considering a pay restructure for 13 lakh government employees. The current commission is unique not only because it is bigger than any previous one, but also because it includes noted economists and representatives from the armed forces, banks and autonomous bodies. The previous commissions mainly comprised current and former bureaucrats who used to put forward recommendations only on the basis of the demands placed by the employees associations from various government offices. The previous commissions recommended salaries for government employees considering a four-member family as standard. Farashuddin said this commission would take six as the size of a standard family. He also said the commission had already prepared a set of questionnaires, to be placed before government employees of various ranks, for finalising pay restructuring report. Although the commission had been planning to bring a major structural change in the salaries of the government employees, it would also keep in mind the means of the governments funding, the former central bank boss said. We will evaluate the proposed salaries and allowances structure up against the socio-economic situation in the country, he said. Farashuddin also said the commission had been working to come up with a balanced proposal that would end up narrowing the gap between the private sector and government pay structures. He claimed: After the proposed pay scale is executed, the private sector will follow the government structure. According to sources, yesterdays meeting discussed two sets of questionnaires one set full of technical issues for the higher level employees and other set deal with basic needs for the lower level staff. The first set would be placed before the armed forces officers, bankers and secretaries while the second set would be mainly for the third and fourth class employees. Instead of drastically raising the salaries, the commission had been reportedly mulling effective rationing for the lower level employees to ensure sustainable living standard. The next meeting of the commission is scheduled for later this month. l

No steps against fugitive BCL leaders, RU to reopen on March 10

n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi
No legal action has been taken against the six Chhatra League activists who were seen brandishing firearms during the February 2 violence at Rajshahi University (RU). A university source confirms the halls will re-open on March 10 and classes will resume from March 11. The university syndicate will decide today (Monday) to re-open the university campus, the source adds. RU pro-vice chancellor Professor Sarwar Jahan Sajol, however, told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday no final decision had yet been taken in this regard and the syndicate would take the final decision tomorrow (Monday). Meanwhile, anger prevailed among the students as police or university administration is yet to take any action to nab the Chhatra League men who used firearms and attacked a rally of general students. BCL joint secretary Nasim Ahmed Setu, organising secretary Samsuzzman Emon, former joint secretary Sudipto Salam, leader Mustkim Billah, leader Anwarul Islam Shuvro and joint organising secretary Faisal Ahmed on February 2 openly used firearms. The gun-toting men launched the attack on the students but none of them has been named in any of the cases filed by police and RU registrars office. The BCL high-command suspended eight leaders and activists including Tawhid Al Hossain Tuhin, Akheruzzaman Takim, Nasim Ahmed Setu and Atikur Rahman, after a hall unit convener was shot dead in a factional feud on July 16, 2012.All of them, however, were taken back. Setu was expelled twice after December 4, 2012, for beating RU Sangskritik Jote president Arif Parvez at Bangabandhu Hall. Tuhin was made the general secretary of the current RU BCL committee formed on July 20 last year. Around the same time, Takim became a central committee member and Atikur a vice-president. Former RU BCL president Awal Kabir Joy and general secretary Majedul Islam Apu were expelled after a BCL activist was killed at Shah Makhdum Hall on August 23, 2010. Both of them are now back and active in BCL politics. RU BCL vice-president Mehedi Hasan said some BCL men though brandishing firearms was an easy way to secure vital posts in the organisation. It is a reality nowadays that armed cadres become leaders quickly. Chhatra League is slammed for their activities, though the organisation has many good students in its ranks. Speaking of February 2 violence, he said a certain quarter had used some cadres to get blessings of the university authorities and win tender bids. He, however, did not go into details. He also asked the government to file cases against the BCL men under the Arms Act. Countering Tajul, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury cited several incidents of killings during the regime of Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, including the murder of Dr Milon. When asked, registrar professor Entajul Haque said: How can I comment on filing cases against the armed cadres? You better ask the administration high-ups. Contacted, vice chancellor Professor Muhammod Mizanuddin said the syndicate would take the decision on this. Proloy Chichim, deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, told the Dhaka Tribune there was no need to file a separate case against the armed Chhatra League men. He said the six cases filed by police, RU authorities and a BCL leader for damaging university properties and blasting bombs would cover all the allegations. Be it arms or crude bombs, all these were used for destabilising the situation. The existing cases cover everything, said a senior police official responsible for maintaining the law and order at RU. l

Elected UP Bashundhara gets dredging chairman among 9 held for cheating work for 24 water routes According to the ministry, an adn Tribute Report vertisement for tender was placed in n Kailash Sarkar The cabinet committee on public pur- newspapers and posted on the BIWTC
The elected chairman of Batamara Union Parishad of Muladi in Barisal and eight others were arrested in the capitals Kachukhet Saturday night for cheating people in different ways. RAB officials yesterday claimed that they had arrested the persons with a pistol, four bullets and 250 pieces of illegal Yaba tablets in their possessions. Apart from UP Chairman Md Muhasin Reza, 48, the other arrested persons are Md Kali Mridha, 48, Shaon Hawlader, 20, Azizul Huq, 30, Sajnay Saha, 44, Liton Munsi, 44, Mohammad Swapan, 30, Manik Khandaker, 40, and Jasim Uddin. Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of RABs legal and media wing, said the UP chairman had been running a ring and cheating people through land purchase and sale for the last eight years. They used to set up offices in the capitals different places and Muhasin impersonated himself as citizen of different rich countries while purchasing land. l chase has allowed Bashundhara Dredging Company Ltd to dredge 24 water routes in the countrys southern part. It has also approved increasing the construction cost of a bank-protection yard at the Janzira point of the proposed Padma bridge by 9.17% caused due to delay by the Indian construction firm. The committee yesterday approved the proposals with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair. The meeting gave the go ahead to a shipping ministry proposal for dredging the Barisal-Jhalakathi-Barguna-Patharghata water route under the revised Capital Dredging of River System in Bangladesh project. The shipping ministry submitted the proposal of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation in October last year. But the committee rejected the proposal and sought clarifications on five points, including whether the national competitive bidding process had been followed.

website for some time under the Public Procurement Regulation to make the bidding more competitive. Bashundhara was selected as the responsive firm which quoted Tk96.26 crore for dredging 38 lakh cubic metres. Regarding bank protection at the Janzira point, a senior official of the Bridges Division told the meeting: We will extend the deadline for the Indian firm Bhartia-MBEL (JV) Ltd to build the 2,163km river bank protection yard. Thus, we can save the time needed in case we floated tender again. As per the initial contract, the cost of building the Janzira point yard was Tk135.97 crore. However, the Bhartia-MBEL failed to bring in all the necessary heavy equipment during the rainy season and the Bangladesh government has still not been able to manage to convince a private owner to give up its land for the bridge; as a result, the construction of the yard will now cost the government an extra Tk12.47 crore. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, March 3, 2014

Accident patients on the rise

More than 266,276 accident and trauma patients were admitted at NITOR hospital in 2012 13
n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society has urged the government to appoint orthopaedicians at district-level hospitals as the patient load at the capitals National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) Hospital had risen significantly over the last few years. Professor Dr Abdul Gani Molla, secretary general of Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society, made the demand at the societys annual conference in the capital on Saturday night. Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim attended the event as the chief guest. Professor Molla also informed that more than 266,276 accident and trauma patients were admitted to the Nitor hospital in the last two years (201213), where 138,410 were admitted and 31,509 were operated. Praising the government for creating more than four hundred posts for orthopaedic doctors, he also urged the government to take necessary steps to appoint them at district-level hospitals. Mollah also informed that in 2012, the number of outdoor patients at Nitor hospital were 130,667, of which some 21,000 were admitted and 5,994 patients were operated. In 2013, the number of outdoor patients increased to 135,609, of which 117,410 were admitted. Among the admitted patients, 25,515 were operated, he added. Accident and trauma patients from across the country are compelled to come to Nitor in the capital as most district-level hospitals lack good orthopaedic facilities. It is very unfortunate that few orthopaedic surgeons leave public hospitals during duty hours and perform surgeries at private hospitals, Abdul Awal Rizvi, president of Bangladesh Orthopaedic Society and a former director of Nitor hospital, told the conference. Meanwhile, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim urged the orthopaedic doctors to carry out their duties more efficiently. I will do everything possible for promotion, post creation and appointment for the doctors, but they need to be more serious about their responsibilities, the minister said. Nasim further said: Every doctor must stay at his/her duty station, as posted, for the certain period (two years). I will not entertain any recommendations or requests, no matter whoever he/she is. I will not tolerate corruption. If any doctor is attacked, inform me, I will stand beside you. But my only request to you is to carry out your duties properly. The conference was also addressed by State Minister for Health Zahid Malik, State Minister of Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan, Health Secretary MM Niazuddin, Bangladesh Medical Association Secretary General Professor M Iqbal Arslan, Nitor Director Professor Dr Hamidur Rahman, and Dr RR Koiry, among others. l

Eden College students submit memorandum to Prime Minister

n Arif Ahmed, DU Correspondent
A seven-member team of Eden Mohila College submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister yesterday demanding the educational institution be regarded as a full-fledged university. Hundreds of students gathered on the college premises around 11:30 am yesterday and marched towards the Prime Ministers office. Police barred them while crossing the Shahabag intersection and allowed a seven member team to go to the premiers office. Shahbagh police station Officer-inCharge Sirajul Islam said: The protest rally was barred to avoid traffic jam and chaos. We asked the students to send a representative team to the prime minister. Samajtantrik Chhatra Front General Secretary Imran Habib accompanied the team. Mukta Baroi, one of the organisers of the movement, said: We have urged the prime minister to take steps within 10 days or else the students will take up stricter programmes. Being barred by police, the students took position in front of the National Museum and staged a demonstration. They urged the government to meet their demand as soon as possible and requested not to deploy any law enforcers to hamper their peaceful activities. Students, teachers and employees of countrys biggest educational institution for women have been demonstrating for around two months now to press home the demand. l

Violence, capture of polling stations mark upazila polls in Gopalganj

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj
Violence, capture of polling stations, snatching ballot boxes and assaulting polling officer marked Thursdays upazila polls in Gopalganj district. Golam Kibria, who was attacked while working as a presiding officer at Suktail Govt Primary School under Sadar upazila, said: No steps were taken against ballot paper snatching and attack on me. He also said he did not make any objections as high-ups did not allow him to do so. Gopalganj Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge Md Zakir Hossain said: Two policemen were attacked at South Bangram. Afterwards, additional policemen went to the place while the villagers attacked the policemen, said the OC. The police lodged a case accusing ten villagers and 300 unnamed persons in connection with the incident, he added. Vice-chairman candidate and district Chhatra League President Abdul Hamid said his agents were ousted from eight polling centres. Moreover, violence occurred during casting vote in 40 polling centres. It occurred under the leadership of UP Chairman Abid Ali, he said. Returning Officer and Additional Deputy Commissioner Md Rafiqul Islam said: No one has made any objection regarding Sadar upazila polls. Police lodged a case with the Gopalganj police station in connection with the attack on police, he added. AL leader Sheikh Jahangir Hossain allegedly said the last five years tenure of Biswas was full of corruption. Biswas is trying to label activists of Mostofa as BNP Jamaat albeit both the chairman candidates are AL backed, he made this comment in a press briefing held at the Mostofas election campaigning office at Gohordanga. Earlier, activists of Gazi Golam Mostofa demonstrated against the arrest of Mostofas activist Moniruzzaman Talukder at Tungipara. Accused chairman candidate Solaiman Biswas refuted the allegations and said: The case was lodged accusing Mostofas supporter Moniruzzaman Talukder as he had assaulted my supporter Oboni Gyne. However, police arrested Talukder in connection with the case. l

Aspiring migrant workers form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday, protesting the governments failure in sending them off to South Korea even after two years of passing the migration examination SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Young leaders visit Japan n Tribune Report

A group of 15 young officials working as assistant commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers are visiting Japan for 18 days since yesterday under the JICAs young leaders training programme. Every year JICa invites 200 Bangladeshi professionals for training. l

Village police succumbs to poll violence injures

The victim was discharging his duty when he was stabbed spector of Dhaka Medical College po- during a clash between two rival groups n Mohammad Jamil Khan lice outpost, told the Dhaka Tribune centering upazila polls on February 27.
A village policeman, who was injured in a clash during the second phase of upazila polls in Sonaimuri upazila of Noakhali, died in the early hours of Sunday while undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). He was 55. The deceased was identified as Jamal Uddin, 55, son of late Abdul Hakim Moulavi. He hailed from Dhannopur village of the upazila and died at around 4:00am as he received severe stab wounds throughout his whole body, Dr Rofikul Islam, registrar of neurosurgery department of DMCH, told the Dhaka Tribune. Contacted, Mozammel Haque, inthe body was handed over to the victims son Ripon having performed autopsy in the morgue. According to police, Jamal was on duty at Dhonnopur Dakhil Madrasa polling centre on February 27 on the day of voting and was stabbed by some miscreants, who attacked the polling centre at around 03:00pm, when he tried to resist. Later, he was admitted in a local clinic but as his condition started deteriorating, he was shifted to DMCH. He, however, succumbed to his injures there on Sunday. Abdu Samad, officer-in-charge of Sonaimuri police station, told the Dhaka Tribune: Jamal received serious injuries The victim was discharging his professional duty during the clash, he said, adding that a case was filed with police station in this connection against 60 unidentified people. During a hospital visit on Sunday, this correspondent found Jamals son taking the body to home after completing all hospital formalities as tears rolled down his face. When asked, Ripon, with a broken voice, said his father was on polls duty but died after falling prey to political clash. Will any political party take responsibility for my fathers death, Ripon told this correspondent in a frustrated voice. l

Two rental power projects get 5-year extension

n Tribune Report
The public purchase committee yesterday extended the tenures of two more rental power projects having a capacity of 128.5MW for five years each. The projects are 50MW DAP and 78.5MW Max Power. In its previous tenure, the Awami League-led government extended the tenures of seven rental power projects. Power Division officials said the army-run 50MW DAP power project would be extended after fixing its power tariff to Tk19.99 per unit from Tk20.40 and through the extension the government would save Tk72 crore. The tariff for the 78.5MW Max Power project is expected to be set at Tk3.29 per unit from Tk5.41, which the Power Division expects will save Tk583 crore during the extended period of five years. The division claims that it could save Tk2,635.28 crore by extending the tenures of nine rental and quick rental power projects for five years as the purchase rates were adjusted downward from the producers. The projects are: 100MW Desh Energy owned by former FBCCI president Annisul Huq, 50MW RZ Power of Rahimafrooz, UK-based 55MW Aggreko Power, 55MW Energies Power of Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, 110MW Quantum of Otobi, 110MW Khulna Power of the United Group, 78.5MW Max Power, 50MW DPA of Bangladesh Army, and 55MW Precession Energy. The Power Division favoured the costly rental and quick rental power projects, considering the delay of based load power projects, an official said. The countrys electricity production capacity had increased to 10,341MW and it would increase to 11,000MW next month, he added. The government targets to increase power generation capacity by 16,000MW in 2016 and 24,000MW in 2021. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB

Weather may remain mainly dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country and chances of light rain or thundershowers is likely at one or two places over Dhaka, Sylhet, Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions until 6pm today. Day and night temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country, Met Office said. The sun sets in the capital at 6:02pm today and rises at 6:18am tomorrow. Countrys highest temperature 33.4 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Sitakunda and lowest 13.2 degrees in Srimangal. Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar High 29.2 31.9 23.6 25.2 30.5 30.4 28.6 32.0 Low 18.2 18.2 16.7 15.7 18.2 17.1 13.7 20.0

Conflict among Atish Dipankar Trustees to be resolved, UGC says

n Tribune Report
A tripartite meeting involving two conflicting groups of Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology and University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to resolve the ongoing crisis among Trustees, a press release of UGC said yesterday. The meeting held at UGC decided to create a new board of trustees on consensus. The meeting also decided the university would establish its own campus and would shut down its illegal outer campuses as per the Private University Act of 2010. Academic activities at the university were hampered for quite some time because of the conflict among the Trustee Board members. The press release said the university agreed to stop operations at its unapproved campuses in Uttara, Panthapath, Mirpur and Paltan from May. University authorities said they would send proposals of Vice chancellor, Pro-vice chancellor and Treasurer to the President, also Chancellor of the University, for appointment. Among others, UGC member Atful Hye Shibly, Professor Anwara Begum and Professor Abul Hossain Sikder from the university were present. l

PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:03am 6:18am 12:10am 4:24pm 6:02pm 7:18pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

Locals gather to watch a traditional bullfight at Narail sadar upazila yesterday. The bullfight was organised as part of an 8-day festival marking the birth anniversary of artist SM Sultan DHAKA TRIBUNE

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, March 3, 2014

Student protests foiled by law enforcers

n Mohammad Jamil Khan
Law enforcers foiled agitation programmes of a group of students of Jagannath University (JnU) in capitals Bangla Bazar intersection yesterday. Under the banner of JnU Hall Recovery Parisad, the students held a demonstration and brought out a procession to recover the three occupied halls of residence: Tibet, Shahabuddin and Abdur Rahman. The students have been agitating for long to recover 13 halls from illegal occupiers since the university started its journey on October 20, 2005. The latest protests began on February 18, with teachers and staff joining in. On Saturday, demanding the vacating of dormitories occupied by outsiders, they declared that they would free the halls by themselves. Yesterday they gathered on the university premises around 11am and continued the protest programmes for half an hour. As police put up a barricade at the Bangla Bazar intersection to stop them from marching towards the halls, they sat on the street blocking the Chittaranjan Avenue. Because of the demonstration, vehicle movement in the area remained suspended until 2pm, when finally the students left their positions, Harun-orRashid, deputy commissioner of police of Lalbagh division told the Dhaka Tribune. He said: We obstructed the students to avoid any untoward occur-

GRABBED DORMS IN JNU

Police put up a barricade at the Bangla Bazar intersection to stop a group of agitated students of Jagannath University from marching towards the halls in the capital yesterday. Businessmen lay siege to the main gate of Shaheed Ajmat Hossain Hall in Patuatuli RAJIB DHAR rence and to bring the situation under control. Additional law enforcers had been deployed in the area. The teachers of the university separately brought out a procession yesterday that paraded through different roads inside the campus and older parts of Dhaka. They also demanded removal of deputy Commissioner of Lalbagh police and officer-in-charge of Kotowali police station following an incident on February 23 where the students, along with teachers and university staff, tried to take over Tibet hall, resulting in a clash with police that left at least 200 protesters injured. Addressing the rally, Professor Dr Parimal Bala, general secretary of JnU teachers association, said: We have already boycotted classes from 11am to 4pm; however, we are still taking classes until 11am. If the authority does not meet our demand and manage halls for the students then we would go for a day-long strike. He warned the authority not to compel them to go for tougher actions that might paralise all activities of the university. l

Hartal observed peacefully inBarisal n Our correspondent, Barisal

A day-long shutdown called by Barisal city and district BNP protesting alleged mass vote rigging in Barisal Sadar upazila election on February 27 observed peacefully. BNP activists burned tires on road at Nabagram area and brought out stray processions at different parts of the city and upazila. They tried to organise pro-hartal picketing but their efforts were foiled by law enforcers. Transportations, transactions in financial institutions, commercial areas, classes at educational institutions, works at judiciary and administrative offices were almost as normal as any other day. Jubo League brought out anti-hartal procession fromPort Roadarea and held a rally in front of thy party office. l

New taxi cabs for Dhaka before Pahela Baishakh

n Tribune Report
The government has planned to introduce new taxi cabs for the capital and its vicinity before the Bengali New Year in mid-April. The process of importing 60 new taxi cabs has already been completed. The cabs will reach us within this March, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader told reporters yesterday. The new cabs are the first batch of 500 which were approved earlier by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA). The government hopes that induction of the new cabs would reduce transport crisis in the capital. Of the 500, half would run in Chittagong city. The first cabs in Dhaka will also run in the nearby highways and Narayanganj, Joydevpur, Mawa and Paturia. Army Welfare Trust and Toma Construction and Company Ltd which earlier took part in a bidding process would import the cabs from the countries favourable to them, BRTA Director Engineer Saiful Haque said. The newly-added taxi-cabs were licensed under air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned category as per Taxi Cab Regulation Act, 2010. We have relaxed terms and conditions to quicken import of the cabs for meeting the increasing demand of the city dwellers. Considering passengers sufferings, the government has decided to introduce 1,000 new taxi cabs with modern facilities in the capital city for ferrying people smoothly, the minister told reporters while visiting Shantinagar area. He said: No company has been given approval to import reconditioned cars older than three years as per law. The new cabs would be minimum 1500cc. The air-conditioned cabs would be yellow, the non-AC ones sky blue while those over 2000cc green coloured, the BRTA official said. He also said, The cabs will run as per the passengers direction, not upon the drivers whims. If the authorities find any problem in operation, the licensees will be seized. The BRTA is now preparing number plates and distributing smartcard driving licensees for the new taxi-cabs. l

Two sent to jail

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
A Chittagong court yesterday sent two job seekers to jail in a case filed in connection with the irregularities in recruiting fuel checkers at the east zone of Bangladesh Railway (BR). The court of Metropolitan Session Judge, SM Mojibur Rahman, sent Abul Kashem and Anisur Rahman to jail rejecting their bail prayers when they surrendered before the court, said Omar Fuad, bench assistant of the court. Earlier, the court framed charges against Yousuf Ali Mridha, former general manager, Golam Kibria, former social welfare official, Hafizur Rahman, former additional chief mechanical engineer of BR (east) and the two job seekers on February 5. BR sources said the east zone had is-

RAILWAY RECRUITMENT SCAM

sued seven advertisements in October and November, 2010 to fill up 3419 vacant posts in 38 categories. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel seized Tk 70 lakh, which was allegedly collected from the job seekers, from a car of assistant personal secretary (APS) Omar Faruk of the then Railway Minister Suranjit Sen Gupta on April 9, 2012. Suranjit resigned from his post after the incident while his APS, Mridha, Kibria, Hafizur and Railway Nirapatta Bahini Dhaka Divisional Commandant Enamul Haque were suspended. SM Rashidur Reza, assistant director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), lodged a case with Kotwali police station in connection with the irregularities in recruitment of fuel checker post on September 13 ,2012. l

Khagrachhari villages still tense over clashes n Jasim Majumder, Khagrachhari

Life has not yet returned to normal in Kamalchhari, Betchhari, Bhuyachhari and Barnalmukh villages under Sadar upazila over clashes between hill people and Bangalis. According to sources, a group of ethnic people were locked in a clash with Bangali people in the villages over the recent killing of indigenous woman Subita Chakma, that left a total 20 people injured on Tuesday. Sources said students of several institutes could not attend the classes as tension had grasped the area. Some eight educational institutions including four primary schools and two high schools were almost student-less as most remained absent. Kamalchharimukh Government Primary School Headmaster Md Sirajul Islam said only three students out of 120 came to school on Sunday. Replying to another query, Sirajul said students might be in panic and remained in their houses. Kamalchhari High School headmaster Arun Jyoti Chakma said most of the students did not attend the classes as panic grasped the area. Mohammad Shahjahan Farayezi, a local government representative, said the students had not attended school and madrasa since last Tuesday. We sat with the ethnic leaders on Saturday afternoon to settle the issue and they agreed to maintain communal harmony in the area, he added. Kamalchhari Union Parishad Chaiman Supon Khisa said: Normalcy will return by next two to three days. Superintendent of Police (SP) SK Mizanur Rahman said situation would be alright by some more days. Security personnel had been deployed in the area to avoid untoward incident, the SP added. l

Negligence behind snatching of JMB leaders

mittee has found negligence and failure of the police and the jail authorities behind snatching of convicted JMB leaders on February 23. I have received the report and it is nothing but an utter negligence of the authorities concerned, Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune at his Secretariat office yesterday evening. The four-member committee headed by Additional Home Secretary Nazimuddin Chowdhury submitted the 52-page report to the home secretary around 6pm. was negligence, or else, such an incident cannot take place. A copy of the report was sent to State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan, he added. Members of banned Islamist outfit JMB (Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh) killed a policeman and snatched three of their top operatives from a prison van in Trishal of Mymensingh on February 23. Following the incident, the home ministry formed the probe body and gave three working days to submit the report. But the committee took a few more days as it could not prepare the ministry official who was involved with the investigation said: We are considering the incident as a failure of the police and the jail authorities. We have interrogated around 40 people including officials of the police and the jail authorities, the official said adding that the names of suspects had been mentioned in the report. They could be brought to the book after further investigation, the official said. There are some weaknesses in the system. According to the official, when prisoners are handed over to the police to pro-

New Lohagara Home ministry probe body submits report, names suspects behind the rare incident vice-chairman, five others sent to jail Mustaq said: I have not yet gone report within the stipulated time, a duce them before a court, the jail authorn Rabiul Islam ities do not see the strength of the escort. through the report. But so far I have member of the committee said. n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Preferring anonymity, a senior home We have recommended for improveThe home ministry investigation com- talked to the committee members; it
ment of the system, the official said. The probe committee has recommended further investigation to find out whether there was any plot behind the incident as it did not rule out the possibility. Hours after the incident, Rakib Hasan, one of the three JMB operatives, was recaptured from the bordering areas of Shafipur in Tangail. He was killed in a gunfight in Beltoil Ceramic area of Mirzapur in Tangail on February 24. Police also detained three other suspected JMB men in connection with the rare prisoner snatching incident. l

AL LAWMAKER ASSAULTED

A Chittagong court yesterday (Sunday) sent six people, including the newly-elected Lohagara upazila vice chairman, to jail in a case filed in connection with attack on Awami League leader Abu Reza Mohammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, also a lawmaker for Chittagong-16 constituency.

Lohagora and Satkania upazilas are known as a Jamaat-Shibir stronghold

The court of Chittagong Senior Judicial Magistrate Masud Parvez passed the order when the accused surrendered before the court and submitted bail plea, said court sources. The six persons are Nurul Abser, newly-elected vice chairman of Lohagara upazila; Moshtak Khondokar, public relation officer of International Islamic University in Chittagong;and four Jamaat-e-Islami leaders Md Shafi, Md Mahfuz, Kazi Jashim Uddin and Nasir Uddin of the upazila, added the sources. The same court also granted bail to two other accused Md Jashim and Helal Uddin Noman in the case. Jamaat-Shibir activists attacked MP Nadvi during a religious programme at Chunati union of Lohagara on January 31 night. The following day, police lodged a case against 3,000 Jamaat-Shibir men mentioning 125 names, including ANM Shamsul Islam, amir (chief) of the city unit of Jamaat,in this connection. Nadvi told the Dhaka Tribune the attack had been planned earlier. The Satkania constituency comprising Lohagora and Satkania upazilas is known as a Jamaat-Shibir stronghold. l

Seven shifted to DMCH for better treatment n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

JAMUNA OIL DEPOT FIRE

Seven people, who sustained burn injuries in a fire at Jamuna Oil Company depot in Chittagong on Friday, were shifted to Dhaka yesterday. The seven are Hasan, Shamsu, Jobi, Jamshed, Najim, Lokman and Khayer. They were sent to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 12:30am for better treatment, said Dr Mishma Islam from the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. The two other injured are Jamal and Rahim. Jamal was still admitted at the CMCH while Rahim was released on Saturday. All the nine injured are employees of the depot. Authorities formed two separate probe bodies to investigate into the incident and an engineer of the plant was suspended for negligence in duty. l

Students of the capitals Eden college demonstrate yesterday demanding full university status

DHAKA TRIBUNE

6
n Our Correspondent, Natore
Obtaining higher education has become a challenge for younger generation of the Banshfor people in Natore, an ethnic community commonly known as Harijans, and the adult members are also struggling to find jobs. Nearly 800 people of around 100 families of the Bashfour community live in the districts Sadar, Lalpur, Gurudaspur and Baraigram upazilas. At least one member from each of the households is engaged in government

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Monday, March 3, 2014

Natore Harijans face education, occupation hurdles

service as a grade IV employee. The rest of the members make their living as day-labourers or master-roll employees cleaning post offices, markets, clinics and private hospitals. Many of them also make money as undertakers and by assisting doctors in post mortem examinations. Although most of the older community members do not know how to write or read, the youngsters are trying to get out of that tradition by enrolling themselves in educational institutions but are facing numerous setbacks. Shantash Kumar Lal, son of Binda Lal of village Moukhara of Baraigram upazila in the district said around 70% of the young children in their community goes to primary schools while 40-50% is receving secondary education. However, only he and his sister Joya Rani are opting for higher education. Lal said he was trying to get into Rajshahi University under the ethnic quota but failed to get the deputy commissioners certificate in support of his communitys identity despite the fact that the UNO had already given his certification. His sister is taking part in Degree (Pass) examination but is tense about securing job following the exam as many belonging to their community could not get job because of their inability to pay bribes Paban Bashfour, general secretary of Bangladesh Harijan Kalyan Parishad of Rajshahi Regional Committee and also president of the district committee, said many of their community members failed to get jobs as the Muslim sweepers manage to occupy posts in exchange for a lot of money. This compels many people to live on master roll and their families live in a very distressing state. Paban urged the government to take necessary steps in this regard so that their children can obtain higher education as well as the grown-ups can lead a happy life. He said such steps would help the community integrate into the mainstream segment of the society and would ensure the development of the society as well as the state. l

85 Bogra BNP activists jailed n Our Correspondent, Bogra

A court in Sonatoli upazila of Bogra district has ordered to send 85 BNP activists to jail on charges of vandalising houses and business organisationsowned by AwamiLeague members. The order was passed by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Hamid yesterday. Public Prosecutor MdHelalur Rahman said five cases were filed against them centring the violence that took place in the upazila during the anti-election programme enforced by BNP, protesting the 10th parliamentary election of January 5. Sources said the judge rejected the bail prayers of the accused and ordered to send them to jail. Officer-in-charge Khalequzzamanof Sonatolipolice station said the newly elected chairman of Sonatoli upazila parishad, Jakir Hossain,wasalso among the total accused. l

Two schools mark centenary in Chapainawabganj n Our Correspondent,

Chapainawabganj
Polladanga Government Primary School and Shonkorbati High School in Chapainawabganj municipality area organised a programme to mark the 100th anniversary of the institutions. A colourful rally was brought out from the school ground of the Shonkorbati High School which went round different areas of the municipality yesterday morning. Hundreds of students holding national flags participated in the rally. On March 2 of 1914, these two schools were established at the Polladanga village of the municipality area. l

Awami League backs Solaiman for polls in Gopalganj n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj
Awami League has backed Solaiman Biswas on Saturday to contest for the chairman post in the upcoming upazila election in Tungipara under Gopalganj district. The upazila AL President Sheikh Abdul Halim said: Grassroots leaders of Tungipara upazila AL have pleged support for Solaiman. The party leaders are campaigning for him, he added. Solaiman said: After getting party support, I met the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to take her blessing. After that, I started election campaign. Local AL General Secretary Abul Khair Bashar said: Locals support Solaiman. They will vote him to give the opportunity for doing work for the development of the upazila. l

Two dead bodies recovered n Our correspondent, Natore

Two dead bodies were recovered from Natores Singra upazila and Tangails Dhanbari upazila yesterday. In Natore, a dead body of a middle aged man was recovered in the early hours, reports our correspondent. The dead Firoz, 53, was son of late Chhoyer Ali and a resident of Kadamkuri village of Singra upazila in the district. Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Singra police station said Firoz was missing from Saturday night after he went out of his house suddenly. Family members said they found his body in a paddy field beside the residence. Later, a team of Singra police recovered the body and sent it to Natore Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy. In Tangail, police recovered a body of a rickshaw-van puller from a septic tank. The dead Saju Miah, 28, was son of Mohammad Ali in Chatutia village of the upazila. Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Dhanbari police station said Saju went missing from last Friday afternoon and was found in a septic tank of Habibur Rahmans residence with both hands and legs of the body tied up. Police suspected that the body was dumped in the septic tank after being killed in some other place. l

Supporters of several candidates mount loud speakers on vehicles for their campaigning in the upcoming third phase of the upazila polls on March 15. This picture was taken from Gaibandha yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Satkhira aspirants busy campaigning as AL finalises candidates

n Our Correspondent, Satkhira
The ruling party Awami League has finalised an aspirant for each post in the upcoming Kaliganj upazila polls scheduled to be held on March 15 in Satkhira district while several BNP-backed candidates are contesting for different posts. According to Kaliganj Upazila Election Office, there are 191,543 voters among which 96,387 are males and 95,156 females under the 68 centres of 12 unions of the upazila. Around 14 candidates for the upazila polls have been keeping themselves busy in election campaigning. Sources said thana Awami League President Freedom Fighter Sheikh Waheduzzaman with pineapple symbol was campaigning for the chairman post. On the other hand, thana BNP President Sheikh Abdus Sattar was contesting with ink-pot symbol, district Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Azizur Rahman with motorcycle symbol, district Bangladesh Jatiya Party convener and current upazila chairman with fish symbol. Jubo League Secretary Sayed Mehedi is contesting for the vice-chairman post. Other candidates contesting for different posts were thana Krishak League Convener Shariful Azad, Jamaat Joint Secretary Abdur Rauf, former thana Jatiya Party President Lotifur Rahman Bablu and independent candidate Sheikh Abdur Hamid. For woman vice-chairman post, thana Awami League President Jebunnessa Jebu was contesting as a rival candidate since the party was supporting Rozina Parvin. l

UPAZILA ELECTION 2014

Awami League, BNP blame each other for violence

n Our Correspondent, Bhola
Chairman candidates backed by Awami League (AL) and BNP for upazila polls in Bhola Sadar alleged against each other by holding a press conference in the district yesterday. Johurul Islam Nakib, deputy coordinator of AL-backed chairman aspirants, alleged that around 10am at Bhola Press Club, BNP activists fired bullets towards an ongoing AL meeting in Bapta area. They have been trying to create violence in the upazila, he added. On the other hand, Md Faruq Mia, district BNP secretary and BNP backed upazila chairman candidate, held another press conference at 11am in district BNP office, alleged that AL activists had been attacking on their meetings in different areas of the town. On Saturday, BNP organised a gathering in Bapta area while AL activists forcefully grabbed the place to hold their meeting. Awami League leaders beat BNP leaders and activists centring the issue. They didnt get any remedy even after submitting a written complaint to the local administration, he added. District police have been taking the side of AL activists, Faruq alleged. District BNP President GolamNabi Alamgir and other BNP leaders were present at the press conference. l

Cattle trader dies in India n Our Correspondent, Kurigram

A Bangladeshi cattle trader died at a hospital in Cooch Behar in India yesterday after receiving bullet injuries in the Phulbari border area of Kurigram district. The deceased has been identified as Mukul Mia, 35, son of Ismail Hossain of Poschim Balatari village of the upazila. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources said the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) men of Boshkotal camp had fired gunshots at a team of cattle traders while they were illegally entering India through Kholisha Kotal border in Phulbari upazila on Saturday morning. Hit by a bullet, Mukul fell on the no mans land between Bangladesh and India. Later, the BSF men had beaten him up and took inside India, said the sources. BGB Balarhat Camp Commander Habildar Rezaul Islam said BSF had been preparing to hand over the body to BGB. l

Daylong BNP strike observed in Natore

n Our Correspondent, Natore
The dawn-to-dusk strike imposed by the BNP demanding recounting of ballot papers was observed in Natore Sadar upazila yesterday. BNP, Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal and Sweschhaswbak Dal brought out processions and held meetings in Tebaria, Hafrasta and station bazar areas early morning. Among others, district BNP Secretary Aminul Haq, Vice-President Rahim Newaz and Juba Dal President Saiful Islam Aftab addressed meetings. On the other hand, district AL, Juba League and Chhatra League units brought out an anti-strike procession at Kanaikhali area in the city around noon. A meeting was also held in front of Natore Press Club. District BNP Secretary Aminul Haq said if the government did not take any steps to recount the ballots, tougher programme would be declared soon and a case would be filed with Natore court in this connection as part of the programme. District BNP leaders demanded ballot papers be recounted by Saturday claiming the assistant returning officer announced AL chairman candidate Shariful Islam Ramzan elected on February 27 after the election commission had declared schedules for second phase of upazila polls. They also submitted a prayer to the returning officer urging him to recount the ballot papers. The strike was imposed as no action was taken on their plea. l

Three Jamaat activists jailed n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A mobile court yesterday sentenced three Jamaat-e-Islami activists to one year imprisonment each on charge of devising the plan to create violence in Kaliganj upazila of Satkhira district. The court of Kaliganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Executive Magistrate Said Faruq Ahmed handed over the verdict. The accused were Asaduzzaman Sarder, 40, of Tarali village of the upazila, Rafiqul Islam, 37, of Poschim Narayanpur village and Mosharraf Hossain, 35. All three were sent to Satkhira jail in the morning. l

A vested quarter constructs a building on a government land near Gouranadi Upazila Hospital at Barisal, violating directions of the district administration FOCUS BANGLA

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Monday, March 3, 2014

Santiniketan: An abode of peace

It is an epitome of his life, thoughts, and philosophy and a centre for development of human values in their best forms

n Abdul Matin

or a long time, I cherished the dream of visiting Santiniketan, but it did not happen until our recent trip to Kolkata with my wife and youngest daughter. We left our hotel in Kolkata by car around 9.30am on January 30 in order to avoid the traffic jam that was expected because of a scheduled meeting of the Trinamul Congress (TMC) of Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of Paschimbanga. She was due to address a huge crowd on the same day at the Brigade ground, ahead of the Lok Sabha election. The city of Kolkata was decorated with banners and ornamental gates for the occasion. A crowd of over two million supporters of TMC was expected to join the meeting and the whole area around the Brigade ground was likely to be closed due to traffic. As we passed by the Brigade ground, we noticed a huge crowd had already gathered at the venue of the meeting. Thousands of supporters, chanting slogans and carrying party flags and banners with pictures of Mamata Banerjee, were coming in processions from all directions to attend the meeting. 200 giant screens were set up across Calcutta to beam the show live. Another 19 screens were at the Brigade ground. Renowned singers and dancers of Kolkata were due to perform on the stage to entertain the crowd. On our way, we saw hundreds of buses and trucks with supporters of TMC heading towards the city. Santiniketan is in Birbhum district and about 170 km from Kolkata. Normally, it is a three-hour drive. We crossed the beautiful New Howrah Bridge, also known as Vidyasagar Setu, and were driving towards the north. The older bridge over the Hooghly River is, by the way, known as Rabindra Setu. It is interesting to note that none of the structures were named after any politician. Soon, we took the Kolkata-Delhi Highway, previously known as the Grand Trunk Road. Sher Shah Suri, an ethnic Pashtun, who ruled Delhi for five years by ousting Mughal Emperor Humayun, built and extended the road from Chittagong in Bangladesh up to Kabul in Afghanistan.

Indian school children of Pathan Bhavan, the junior section of Visva-Bharati University, study outdoors at Shantiniketan road through a village. Because of the detour and our stoppage for tea, we arrived at our hotel in Santiniketan a little late, around 1:30pm. The West Bengal Tourist Lodge, where we stayed, is a beautiful place. Though not very modern, it has all the basic amenities. Situated in a serene surrounding, it comprises several single-storied cottages, each with one or two rooms, around a large rectangular garden with beautiful seasonal decorative structure in the complex is the Upasana Griha (Prayer Hall). It was built by the poets father in 1863 and is made of coloured glass with marble steps on all sides. It is open on Wednesdays only when special prayers are held. It is also called Kanch Mandir (Glass Temple). The temple was closed during our visit and we could see it only from outside. Tagores father also prayed at another place, known as Chhatimtala, (under a Chhatim tree) within the complex. Two most famous buildings of Visva Bharati are the Kala Bhaban, housing the faculty of arts, and the Sangeet Bhaban, housing the faculty of music and dance. Similarly, there are Hindi Bhaban for studies of Hindi, Cheena Bhaban for Sino Asian studies, Vidya Bhaban for humanities, Shiksha Bhaban for science, Vinava Bhaban for education, Rabindra Bhaban for studies on Tagore etc. Other prestigious centres and institutes like the Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration, Rural Extension Centre, Centre for Rural Craft, Technology and Design, Centre for Social Studies and Rural Development, Centre for Biotechnology, Centre for Mathematics Education, Centre for Environmental Studies, and the Computer Centre are also associated with the university. A prominent structure in the complex is the Black House, a mud building coloured black with tar. It is now used as a residence for final year students. The Natun Bari (New House), built in 1902 for the poets family, is a thatched house now used as a meeting place. During our visit, we talked to two former teachers of the university who came to attend a fortnightly meeting of the ladies of the university. The Library of Visva Varati has a collection of over 3,76,000 volumes of books. The Uttarayan Complexwas closed on the day. We left it to be visited on the following day. What impressed me most is the openness of the complex and its proximity with nature. We saw the Amrakunja (Mango Grove) where classes are held in the open air under mango trees. The class area is demarcated by a brick-liner. There is a small but simple brick platform where the teacher sits in front of the students. We also saw small groups of students getting lessons or studying on their own on the verandas of some of the buildings. The whole complex looks like a park with beautiful gardens and trees around the place. There is a big playground within the complex. It shows that sports and games get equal importance as studies. No motorized vehicle or rickshaws are allowed inside the campus. The only allowable mode of transport is the bicycle. It was a pleasant sight to watch students, both boys and girls, in small groups cycling on the roads and gossiping with each other at the same time. We walked inside the university from one end to the other, looking at different buildings, statues, and gardens while our car was waiting for us in a designated parking area. As the visiting time was closing, we left the complex and returned to the hotel. In the evening we went to meet Ushadi. She was married to late Panna Lal Mukharjee, younger brother of famous singer of Tagores songs, Konika Banerjee, nick-named Mohar. Ushadi lives in the same housing complex where Mohardi lived. Ushadis father, Professor Suresh Chandra Sengupta, was the Principal of BM College, Barisal during the partition of India in 1947. He left former East Pakistan for India with his family soon after partition and later settled in Kolkata. Two of Ushadis brothers, Professor Santosh Sengupta and Professor Sunil Sengupta, taught philosophy and agro-economics respectively at Visva Varati. Sunilda visited us in Dhaka more than a decade ago. We were warmly received by Ushadi. She is about 80 years old and lives practically alone at her house. She is still very pretty and elegant for her age. She has three daughters who live in Kolkata. Two of her daughters, Sohini Mukhopadhay and Ranjini Mukhopadhay, are renowned singers of Tagores songs. She remembered many students from Bangladesh who had studied at Santiniketan. She particularly mentioned the names of Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Papiya Sarwar, and Lily Islam.

AFP leaving, Ushadi insisted that we must visit her again and stay at her house, not at any hotel. Later, she called me several times during our stay in India to enquire about our welfare. Kanika Banerjee, by the way, received lessons in music from none other than Rabindranath Tagore. Kanikas original name was Anima. Tagore renamed her Kanika after one his books on poetry. She joined Sangeet Bhavana as a teacher and later became its principal. One of the teachers of Kanika Banerjee at Visva Bharati was Sailajaranjan Mazumdar. He came from a zamindar family of Mohanganj in Netrakona which is also my home town. Sailajaranjan was so fond of Mohanganj that he used to visit his ancestral home regularly even at his old age. He last visited Netrakona in 1987 at the age of 87 but could not proceed to Mohanganj due to ill health. I remember having seen one of his cousins, Durga Das Majumdar, at our ancestral home several times when I was very young. The following morning, we went to Sriniketan (abode of welfare) where Tagore founded an Institute for Rural Reconstruction in 1922. It also houses a centre for village crafts, a centre for education for village folk including children, and the Rural Extension Centre that conducts research in farming techniques and animal husbandry. These institutes reveal Tagores dream for rural development through education, self-help, agricultural innovations and cooperatives. Modern-day non-government organisations (NGOs) must have been inspired by Tagores

To any fan of Tagore, a visit to Santiniketan is like a pilgrimage. His presence is felt all over the small town. Even commercial shop in the nearby market bear the names of his works

It was a pleasant drive over the fourlane highway. The countryside outside Kolkata changed dramatically over the years, particularly during the rule of Jyoti Basu of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). Thatched or tin-shed houses are rarely seen beside the highway. Most houses in the villages are built with bricks and have electricity. Several buildings, apparently owned by well-to-do people, look like palaces. We passed through Hooghly and Barddhaman districts by-passing the town of Barddhaman. As we were halfway to Santiniketan, I called my friend Prof DP Sengupta (Paharida) in Bangalore. We studied together at Liverpool University under the same supervisor during the early 1960s. He retired as professor of electrical engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Science (IISc). He informed me that his elder sister, Usha Mukharjee, was at Santiniketan at that time. He gave me her mobile phone number and advised me to call her on arrival at Santiniketan. I did not have to wait till our arrival. Ushadi called me soon after Paharida had finished his call. She was kind enough to invite us for tea at her house in the evening. We left the highway near Panaghar, taking a right turn along a narrow two-lane road. The road was busy. We stopped at a roadside restaurant for tea even though the place was not very clean. We resumed our journey around noon. At one point, we had to take a detour as a bridge was under construction over a small river, now lying dry. We had to travel several kilometers along a narrow and bumpy

flowers. We took a large room in a cottage and soon went for lunch. Our car was conveniently parked beside our cottage. At around 4 pm, we went to see the Visva Varati University. Santiniketan was originally called Bhubandanga, owned by the family of Lord Satyendra Prasanno Sinha, the first Indian member of the British House of Lords. Maharshi Debendranath Tagore, father of Rabindranath Tagore, received the area as a gift from the Sinha family and renamed it Santiniketan, an abode of peace, in view of the serenity of the place. In 1901, Rabindranath Tagore founded the Patha Bhaban, an institution of primary and secondary education, initially with five students, to experiment his philosophy of learning in a friendly atmosphere and in harmony with nature. This institution gradually developed into a centre of culture with emphasis on arts, language, humanities, and music and was renamed as Visva Varati in 1922. It was recognised as a university in 1951. Some illustrious students of Visva Varati include Indira Gandhi, Satyajit Ray and Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen. With Visva-Bharati at its centre, Santiniketan grew into a university town. The university complex comprises a cluster of buildings, both old and new, housing different departments, institutions, museums, libraries, prayer halls, students dormitories, and administrative units plus open spaces for lectures, sports, gardens, and parks. One of the oldest and the most

During the time of Tagore, Kolkata was not perhaps as noisy as it is today. Yet the poet looked for a retreat for peace and solitude

Ushadi was indeed very happy to see us. She served refreshments and tea to us. Even though we met hardly for an hour, it seemed as if we knew each other for ages. She showered so much love and affection on me, my wife, and my daughter that later I called Paharida and said, Ushadi is most probably my sister, not yours, and you must have hijacked her when I was very young! Both Paharida and Ushadi laughed heartily having listened to what I said. We took some pictures with Ushadi. As we were

ideas and thoughts on rural development. Here we see another side of the multifarious qualities of Tagore. As we know, there is no field in literature in which he didnt put his footsteps, be it poetry, short stories, novels, plays, essays, travel stories, dance dramas, lyrics etc. He was a singer, an artist, an actor, a teacher, a philosopher, social reformer, an agriculturist, an environmentalist, a politician, and what not? We also visited the Amar Kuthir Society for Rural Development, now a centre for development of crafts that

was founded to realise the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Tagore for rural development through self-help. We bought some kantha-stitched sarees and handicrafts from the showroom of the society. The Shilpagram is a beautiful park to visit in Sriniketan. It has a collection of traditional houses of the tribal and ethnic groups in the eastern region of India including Bihar, Assam, Orissa, Manipur, Andaman, and Jharkhand. The walls of the houses are decorated with paintings. Traditional artifacts used by the ethnic groups are exhibited inside the houses. Murals and statues of tribal people in their traditional dresses decorate the whole complex. Handicrafts are also manufactured and sold inside the complex. On the same day in the afternoon, we went to see the Uttarayan Complex, perhaps the most beautiful part of the Viswa Bharati, comprising five buildings where the poet lived. The houses are named Udayana, Konarka, Shyamali, Punascha, and Udichi. These houses plus the Rabindra Bhaban, which was built after the death of the poet, are now used as museums. The houses are situated in a beautiful surrounding with gardens and parks and contain furniture, artifacts and personal belongings of Tagore. The original Nobel medal and certificate for literature received by the poet in 1913 plus some other exhibits were stolen from the museum in 2004. These articles are yet to be recovered. A replica of the medal and a copy of the certificate are now exhibited in the museum. The gardens and trees of Uttarayana and the adjoining areas were designed and planted by the poets son, Rathindranath, who was a horticulturist. Santiniketan wears a festive mood during Basanta Utsab (Spring Festival) and Poush Mela (Winter Fair). Many of Tagores literary and art works were done in Santiniketan. It is an epitome of his life, thoughts, and philosophy and a centre for development of human values in their best forms. In his last letter to Mahatma Gandhi, the poet wrote, Visva Varati is like a vessel carrying the cargo of my lifes best treasure and I hope it may claim special care from my countrymen for its preservation. There is no doubt that the Visva Varati is being looked after very well. It receives thousands of visitors every day, not only from India but also from all over the world. To any fan of Tagore, a visit to Santiniketan is like a pilgrimage. His presence is felt all over the small town. Even commercial shop in the nearby market bear the names of his works poems, dancedramas, or books. A makeshift tea shop under a tree at Bolpur is also named after the poet. Next morning, we left Santiniketan for Kolkata. Even though our visit was short, I was happy to have fulfilled one of my cherished dreams. The memories of Santiniketan will linger in our minds for a long time for its uniqueness, beauty, serenity, and in particular, the love and affection of Ushadi. We had a pleasant journey back to Kolkata. While passing through Chowrangee, we could hear the recorded speech of Mamata Banerjee which we had missed on the day we went to Santiniketan. Mamata was speaking clearly, loudly, and emphatically. With a firm grip on Paschimbanga, Mamata now wants to extend her influence up to Delhi. She practically thundered, Chalo, Delhi chalo. She said, BJP is not the alternative to Congress. Trinamul is the only alternative at the Centre. Without naming anyone, she denounced dynasty and danga (riot) but expressed the desire to rule Delhi. As we were passing through the streets of Kolkata, we noticed new banners inviting people to join another meeting scheduled at the Brigade ground on February 5, even though the old banners of Mamata Banerjee were still in place. This was to be addressed by Narendra Modi of Bharatio Janata Party (BJP), another aspirant for the coveted post of the prime minister of India. This means more processions, more slogans, more speeches, and of course, another traffic jam. During the time of Tagore, Kolkata was not perhaps as noisy as it is today. Yet the poet looked for a retreat for peace and solitude that he found at Santiniketan. He made it the connecting thread between India and the world and founded a world center for the study of humanity somewhere beyond the limits of nation and geography. l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, March 3, 2014

Limited US, European options in Ukraine

n AP, Washington
Despite blunt warnings about costs and consequences, President Barack Obama and European leaders have limited options for retaliating against Russias military intervention in Ukraine, the former Soviet republic now at the centre of an emerging conflict between East and West. Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far dismissed the few specific threats from the United States, which include scrapping plans for Obama to attend an international summit in Russia this summer and cutting off trade talks sought by Moscow. Because Ukraine does not have full-member status in NATO, the US and Europe have no obligation to come to its defence. And broader international action through the United Nations seems all but impossible, given Russias veto power as a member of the Security Council. Yanukovych fled Kiev, Ukraines capital, last week and now is in Russia. Putins moves are sure to deepen tensions in his already troubled relationship with Obama, who has struggled to find a formula for getting the Russian leader to change his calculus on a myriad of issues. The White House said the two leaders spoke for 90 minutes Saturday, with Obama warning Putin that Russias continued violation of international law will lead to greater political and economic isolation. American efforts to punish Russia on Ukraine and other matters have been complicated by the White Houses need for Russian cooperation on stopping Syrias civil war, negotiating a nuclear accord with Iran, and transporting American troops and equipment out of Afghanistan through Russian supply routes. We face a difficult choice of punishing Russia by effectively punishing ourselves, said Andrew Kuchins, the director of the Russia program at the Washington-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The White House appears to be giving no serious consideration to American military involvement in Ukraine. In his carefully worded statement Friday, Obama avoided saying that a destabilised Ukraine would be a national security concern for the US Instead, he said only that it was not in the interest of Ukraine, Russia or Europe. In Europe, officials expressed concern about the Russian military escalation, but offered few specific options for stopping or punishing Putin. The European Union, dealing with its own internal problems, has appeared reluctant to fully embrace troubled Ukraine or risk the economic consequences of confronting Russia, one of its largest trading partners. The UN Security Council met for a second straight day to discuss the growing crisis in Ukraine, which has asked four permanent council members the US, Britain, France and China for help in stopping Russias aggression. But Russia, as the fifth permanent member, holds veto power, meaning there would be virtually no chance of getting even a resolution condemning Russian intervention. l

The White House appears to be giving no serious consideration to American military involvement in Ukraine
There have been strong words from the US and other counties and NATO, said Keir Giles, a Russian military analyst at the Chatham House think tank in London. But these are empty threats. There is really not a great deal that can be done to influence the situation. As if to underscore that point, Putin on Saturday requested and was granted permission to use Russias military not just in the pro-Russian region of Crimea, but also throughout Ukraine. Putins request came one day after Obama warned that any violation of Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity would be deeply destabilising. Saturdays developments follow three months of political upheaval in Ukraine following President Viktor Yanukovychs rejection of a partnership agreement with the European Union in favour of historical ties with Moscow.

1) Military personnel stand next to an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in the Crimean port city of Feodosiya. Ukraine mobilised yesterday for war and called up its reserves, after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to invade in the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War. 2) People mourn at a make-shift memorial for those killed in recent violence at Independence Square in Kiev. 3) The members of Russian Interior Ministry detain a protester during a rally near Saint Isaacs Cathedral in St. Petersburg, where people gathered to protest against possible military incursions of the Russian army onto the territory of Ukraine REUTERS

UN chief calls for immediate calm

n AFP, United Nations
The UN chief called for immediate calm in Ukraine as the Security Council convened an emergency session after Russian lawmakers approved the deployment of troops to the region. Ban Ki-moon will express grave concerns directly to Russian leader Vladimir Putin by telephone, his spokesman said, as tensions escalated in Ukraine. He calls for an immediate restoration of calm and direct dialogue between all concerned to solve the current crisis, UN spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters in New York. The UN secretary-general reiterated his call for the full respect for, and preservation of, the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Ukrainian Defence Minister Igor Tenyukh accused Russia of sending 30 armoured personnel carriers and 6,000 additional troops into Crimea. l

Russia risks losing G8 membership: US

n AFP, Washington
US Secretary of State John Kerry bluntly warned Russia on Sunday that it risked losing its place among the prestigious Group of 8 developed nations over its deployment of troops in Crimea. Kerry warned President Vladimir Putin that he is not going have a Sochi G8, he may not even remain in the G8 if this continues. He may find himself with asset freezes, on Russian business, American business may pull back, there may be a further tumble of the ruble. There is a huge price to pay. The United States is united, Russia is isolated. That is not a position of strength, the top US diplomat told NBCs Meet the Press. The United States, Britain, and France have already pulled out of preparatory meetings this week for the G8 summit due to be held in June in Sochi, amid growing global concerns over Moscows threat to invade neighbouring Ukraine. l

In drug lords state, Mexicans march for peace

n AP, Culiacan
Fewer than a hundred people marched for peace in the northern Mexico state of Sinaloa on Saturday, several days after about 1,000 supporters of arrested drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman held a protest demanding his release. The Saturday peace march was billed as a step to regain pride in being from Sinaloa, after prominent coverage of Wednesdays march of Guzman supporters. While not billed as an anti-Guzman protest, some residents of the state capital of Culiacan clearly opposed the image that residents in his home state support the drug lord arrested last weekend. Marchers wore white clothing, and carried placards with slogans like, Long Live the Good Sinaloans and Sinaloans are hardworking people. Unlike the Guzman march, there was no free food or brass band music at the peace march. Some pro-Guzman marchers said they liked the drug lord because he provided jobs, money and protection. At Wednesdays march, norteno musicians played trumpets while high school students in uniforms held up signs reading We want Chapo free and We Love Chapo as they paraded in Culiacan, long considered the cartels bastion. Demonstrators also said they opposed any attempt to extradite Guzman to the US, where he faces several drug-trafficking charges in different states. El Chapo is widely considered the worlds most powerful drug lord. In rulings this week, two federal judges said he will have to stand trial on separate drug-trafficking and organized-crime charges in Mexico. The Attorney Generals Office said he also faces organized-crime charges in six other cases in four Mexican states and in Mexico City. Guzman, who escaped from a western Mexico prison in 2001, is to remain in Mexicos highest-security prison. The government has said he will not soon be extradited to the US, where Guzman has been indicted in California, New York and other states. l

People play music and march in support of jailed top drug boss Joaquin Guzman Loera, El Chapo in the city of Culiacan, Mexico

AP

Israel PM vows to resist pressures on US visit n AFP, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday pledged to resist pressures as he left for Washington on a visit expected to centre on peace talks with the Palestinians. I am now leaving on an important trip to the US where I will meet with President Barack Obama, his office quoted him as saying as he boarded his plane. We will discuss the Iranian issue and the diplomatic process... In recent years the state of Israel has been under various pressures. We have rejected them...This is what has been and what will be. Although Netanyahu would like the talks with Obama on Monday to focus on Irans nuclear ambitions, the White House appears to have a different agenda. The New York Times, citing senior US officials, reported that Obama would press Netanyahu to agree on a framework for a conclusive round of peace talks with the Palestinians that is being drafted by Secretary of State John Kerry. l

Bin Laden son-in-law on 10m children in Mideast trial in New York to get polio vaccine: UN
n AFP, New York
A son-in-law of Osama bin Laden and former Al-Qaeda spokesman goes on trial in New York Monday, accused of conspiracy to kill Americans and supporting terrorists. Suleiman Abu Ghaith, who spent time with bin Laden in Afghanistan, is best known for making incendiary threats in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks that killed 3,000 people. The 48-year-old suspect from Kuwait is one of the most senior alleged Al-Qaeda members to face trial in the United States and faces life behind bars in an American prison if convicted. His trial, which could feature testimony from the self-declared mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, will be watched closely by those pushing for all terror suspects to be tried in civilian courts. The defendant is best-known for appearing alongside bin Laden and the current leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in al-Qaeda propaganda videos in September 2001. Married to bin Ladens daughter Fatima, US prosecutors say Abu Ghaith worked for Al-Qaeda until 2002, when he fled the US military presence in Afghanistan for neighbouring Iran. The prosecution claims he was complicit in the December 2001 plot to bring down an airliner flying from Paris to Miami. British Al-Qaeda recruit Richard Reid is serving a life sentence for trying to blow up the jet with bombs hidden in his shoes. But the defence says the United States has no evidence that Abu Ghaith was involved or even aware of such plots. The defendant pleads not guilty to all three counts against him. Highlights in the trial are likely to be two witnesses testifying by video link from Britain and Yemen. On March 10, Saajid Badat, a 33-yearold convicted co-conspirator of Reid subsequently released in Britain and dubbed a terror supergrass by the media, has been called by the prosecution. US District Judge Lewis Kaplan also authorized the testimony by video link of bin Ladens former driver Salim Hamdan, from Yemen. l

n AFP, Amman
Millions of children in the Middle East will be vaccinated against polio this month after the crippling disease resurfaced in conflict-hit Syria, the United Nations said Sunday. Mass vaccinations have already been launched in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan and Syria, while a similar campaign in Lebanon will start on March 9, the UN Childrens Fund Unicef said in a statement. Polio does not respect borders, said Ala Alwan, World Health Organisation regional director for the eastern Mediterranean. The detection of polio in Syria is not Syrias problem alone, but one requiring a regional response. The safety of children across the Middle East relies on us being able to put a stop to polio in Syria. Preliminary evidence suggests the virus in this outbreak and also polio samples found in sewage in Egypt, Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip came from Pakistan, one of the diseases last bastions. The Syrian Ministry of Health said in October that polio had returned to

the country for the first time in almost 15 years. We need to get two drops of polio vaccine into the mouth of every child under the age of five, regardless of their previous immunisation history, every time there is a campaign, Khouzama al-Rasheed, a medical worker at a health centre in rural Damascus, was quoted as saying in the statement. Inside Syria, the campaign is targeting 1.6 million children with vaccines against polio, measles, mumps and rubella, Seven countries across the Middle East are planning to vaccinate more than 22 million children multiple times over six months, in the regions largest-ever coordinated immunisation plan, said UNICEF. To vaccinate so many children in different countries is a huge undertaking, said Maria Calivis, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa. Each country faces its own set of challenges in order to make the campaign effective above all in Syria but this is the only way we can ensure children across the region are properly protected against this terrible disease. l

Suspected Islamists kill 39 in Nigeria village raid n AFP, Kano

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram Islamists raided a village in northeastern Nigeria as people were preparing for prayers, killing 39 people, local residents said Sunday. Dozens of attackers dressed in military uniform stormed Mainok, almost 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the troubled city of Maiduguri, on Saturday, firing rocket propelled grenades and Kalashnikovs. Twin blasts on Saturday also killed at least 35 in Maiduguri, a Boko Haram stronghold. They came in around 7:00 pm and opened fire indiscriminately with RPGs (rocket propelled grenades), explosives and AK-47 rifles, said resident Yahaya Umar. They killed 39 people who were buried this morning and destroyed the whole town, he said. Another resident Abdullahi Gana said: We were just lamenting the twin blasts in Maiduguri ... when the Boko Haram gunmen arrived and started firing volleys of RPGs and guns.. Military and police authorities were not available for comment on the attack, the latest blamed on the Boko Haram Islamist group in the village. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, March 3, 2014

9
Crackdown after China killings may backfire

Thai poll re-runs pass peacefully as Red Shirts gather

Around 120,000 people were registered to vote across more than 100 constituencies in five provinces

AFP, Beijing

n AFP, Phetchaburi
Thailands first poll re-runs passed peacefully Sunday following a widely disrupted general election, as pro-government Red Shirts stepped up rallies in support of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatras battered administration. The February 2 election failed to ease a four-month political crisis when protesters seeking to topple Yinglucks government caused the closure of around 10% of polling stations, many in opposition strongholds. The Election Commission said results cannot be announced until polls have been held in all constituencies, setting a late-April deadline for their completion. Yingluck can only remain prime minister in a caretaker role until then with limited power over policy, further eroding her authority as she handles ongoing street protests and a series of legal challenges against her administration. Election commissioner Somchai Srisutthiyakorn said around 120,000 people were registered to vote Sunday across more than 100 constituencies in five provinces. He said the re-runs, the first attempted since February 2, had been held peacefully...without any problems. But only a trickle of voters were seen

at several polling stations in Phetchaburi, an opposition heartland around 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Bangkok, according to an AFP reporter. I was disappointed that I had the right to vote on February 2 but couldnt, Sangwan Yuusuk, 57, said at a polling station. Under election law, 95% of the 500 seats in the lower house of parliament must be filled to enable the appointment of a new government. On its website the Election Commission said senators will be elected on March 30. The main opposition Democrat party, which boycotted the general election, last month lost a legal bid to nullify the poll. In addition to the protests, Yingluck faces a series of legal complaints against her government, including charges of negligence over a troubled rice subsidy scheme which could see her removed from office. Meanwhile, pro-government Red Shirts have ramped up their rallies and rhetoric in support of Yingluck and her billionaire brother Thaksin a former prime minister who lives in exile to avoid jail for a corruption conviction. Television footage Sunday showed thousands of people grouping in a car park in Khon Kaen a Red Shirt strong-

hold in the countrys northeast for an overnight rally, wearing the ubiquitous red and waving flags. They say their votes are a political reward for policies that have funnelled state money to their hard-scrabble regions after years of neglect. Opponents describe the same policies as a form of vote-buying. Thailand has been riven by political divisions since 2006 when Thaksin was ousted in a bloodless military coup, sparking years of political turmoil punctuated by deadly street protests. The worst violence left more than 90 people dead in the heart of Bangkok in 2010, in an army crackdown on Red Shirt rallies against the then-Democrat government. Fears of widening civil conflict have surged amid gun and grenade attacks linked to the current rallies, which have killed 23 people among them four children and wounded several hundred others. The violence prompted the head of the nations coup-prone army to warn that Thailand could slide into civil war. Anti-government protesters on Sunday began dismantling rally stages at several key intersections in Bangkok after announcing the end of a weeks-long self-proclaimed shutdown of the city. l

Beijing is vowing to strike back against an unprecedented mass killing of civilians by alleged Xinjiang militants far outside their homeland, but analysts say that may merely speed up the cycle of repression and violent reprisal. A black-clad gang killed at least 29 people and injured more than 130 in a stabbing spree at Kunming rail station in the southwestern province of Yunnan late on Saturday. Chinas top security official was quickly dispatched and urged forcible measures to crack down on violent terrorism activities, the official Xinhua news agency said, as the public shared horror and anger at photos of bloodied bodies scattered across the floor. Although knife and bomb attacks occur periodically in Xinjiang, where Chinas mostly Muslim Uighur minority is concentrated, they have rarely captured the same attention as this first largescale killing outside the remote region. The incident could severely harden popular and official opinion on Xinjiang and provoke fresh outrage as a result, said Shan Wei, a political scientist at the National University of Singapores East Asian Institute. The psychological impact of this on the Chinese general public will be enormous, Shan said, adding that it would make people more supportive of hard-line policies by the government. Its a tragedy, really, a vicious cycle. Analysts say leaders may also feel the bloody rampage leaves them less open to the international criticism often directed at Beijings Xinjiang policies. Chinese mourners light candles at the scene of the terror attack at the main train Rights groups accuse China of cultural repression station in Kunming, Yunnan Province on March 2 AFP and discrimination in the resource-rich region. l

Afghan prison tricked into freeing Taliban fighters n Agencies

Prison officials in Afghanistans southern city of Kandahar have been tricked into releasing a dozen Taliban fighters, reports BBC. The chief of security for Kandahar, Rahmatullah Atrafi, said a letter was sent to the prison on Tuesday requesting the release of 28 prisoners. Sixteen were due for release but the other 12 were not. The deception was only discovered after the inmates had been freed. Officials say two have since been recaptured. The search for the others continues. So far no group has said it was behind the deception although correspondents say the Taliban have carried out several jail breaks in recent years. Mr Atrafi said an investigation was being set up. In this letter they added 12 prisoners, and that was fake, he said. A committee has been set up to look into the matter. In this delegation we have prison officials, prosecutors and security officials. They are going to look into this and find out who was behind it. Whoever it is, they will be tried and punished. The release of Taliban prisoners is a contentious issue in Afghanistan. In January, President Hamid Karzais office said scores of prisoners previously held by US forces at Bagram jail would be released. Washington expressed concern over the planned releases, saying it regarded them as dangerous criminals. l

Murder charges dog Modis right-hand man

n Reuters, Ahmedabad
Amit Shah, a key election campaign manager and close aide of Narendra Modi, the frontrunner to become Indias next prime minister, is charged with three counts of murder. To supporters, Shahs proven talent in winning elections makes him the obvious choice to run Modis campaign in Uttar Pradesh, a swing state that holds the key to national power. But for critics, Modis ties to Shah are proof that there is a dark side to the Hindu nationalist leader now storming ahead in opinion polls on promises to sweep away corruption and economic mismanagement. Modis popularity stems in large part from his record of governance as chief minister of Gujarat state, an economic powerhouse. But he himself is dogged by accusations that he turned a blind eye to sectarian riots in Gujarat, in which at least 1,000 people - mainly Muslims - were killed in 2002. He denies any wrongdoing and the Supreme Court has said there is not enough evidence to proceed against him. We were shocked, said Mukul Sinha, a lawyer representing relatives of victims in the cases against Shah, commenting on his appointment as campaign manager for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, the countrys most populous state. This man faces criminal charges. But if Modi wins, he could be one of Indias most powerful politicians, he said, referring to the possibility that Shah could become a senior federal minister. An election due by May will pit Modis BJP against the Nehru-Gandhi dynastys Congress party, whose popularity has wilted after two terms in power amid a sharp economic slowdown and corruption scandals. The BJP says Congress and other parties pander to minorities for votes. Congress counters that Modi and the BJP are biased, especially against Muslims. A stocky, bearded figure and son of a well-to-do businessman, Shah was interior minister for seven years in Gujarat before his 2010 arrest and subsequent release on bail. He denies charges that he ordered the killing of a man police claimed was an Islamic militant on a mission to assassinate Modi. The mans wife and a witness were also killed. Such killings at the hands of police are widespread in India but it is rare for a senior politician to be charged. The BJP says the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) charges were influenced by the Congress-led government, which is often accused of using the federal agency to harass enemies. This is a politically-motivated campaign, said BJP spokeswoman Meenakshi Lekhi. l

AAP likely to play Kejriwal vs Modi fight card

n Agencies
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday gave a glimpse of its game plan for the Lok Sabha elections, strategically hinting that Arvind Kejriwal would contest against BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. even as he accused the Congress and the BJP of having a setting with the businessman. The word setting used in this context by Kejriwal is a typical Indianism for unholy nexus or an understanding on the sly. Kejriwal has been targeting Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and its chairperson Ambani over gas pricing, which he said was being tweaked to benefit the businessman. He has also accused Ambani of stashing money in illegitimate accounts aboard. RIL has dismissed the allegations. Modi is using Ambanis helicopter, said Kejriwal. People say there is a Modi wave in the countrywhat wave? Who is telling you that? The media? In his most aggressive speech so far, Kejriwal said Modi had not responded to his letter asking him to clarify his stand on the gas pricing issue and links with Ambani. Leading his partys charge in Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats, the highest among states in the country, Kejriwal said, The government at the Centre will not be made without AAP support. On Day 2 of his three-day road show in UP, Kejriwal added he had a feeling the AAP would win 100 seats on its national debut and form the government at the Centre. No matter how many seats the AAP gets, they will be more than the Congress. l

Pakistani jets bomb militant hideout, a day after Taliban ceasefire plan

n Reuters, Peshawar
The Pakistani military said it had bombed the hideout of a militant leader on Sunday, killing five insurgents, only a day after the Taliban declared a one-month ceasefire to pursue stalled peace talks with the government. The target of the attack, Mullah Tamanchey, directed a deadly assault against a convoy carrying a polio vaccination team and security forces on Saturday in which 12 people were killed, the military said. The government is not going to tolerate any act of terror and any act will be replied to, said a Pakistani security official who asked not to be identified. Hours after the attack on the convoy, the Taliban said they would observe a one-month ceasefire to try to revive peace talks that failed last month. It also called on other militant groups to observe the ceasefire. A government negotiator told Reuters they were open to restarting peace talks as long as the Taliban and its affiliates honoured the ceasefire. The Pakistani Taliban, an alliance of militant groups, says it is fighting to overthrow the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and replace it with a state ruled under strict Islamic law. Sharif has been pursuing peace talks since he was elected in May. Soon after the talks finally began on Feb. 6 the Taliban bombed a police bus in Karachi, killing 13 people. l

Kejriwal might contest from Varanasi if the Bharatiya Janata Party fields Modi from the seat
AAP leader Manish Sisodia indicated that Kejriwal might contest from Varanasi if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fields Modi from the seat. There has been a buzz around this possible Kejriwal versus Modi fight for some time now, but both leaders have been silent on the issue. The BJP has so far not said where Modi will contest from in the Lok Sabha polls due in less than 100 days. Strengthening the buzz, AAP leader Sanjay Singh appealed to Kejriwal to contest against Modi. The fresh development came on a day when Kejriwal kept up his attack on Indias richest man Mukesh Ambani, trying to make him a poll issue

New threat to Brazils breadbasket: a pesky caterpillar

n Reuters, Sao Desiderio, Brazil
Brazilian farmers are battling a voracious caterpillar that likely arrived from Asia, challenging the agricultural superpowers widely touted mastery of tropical farming just as it is on the verge of becoming the worlds top soybean producer. The caterpillar, a variety known as helicoverpa armigera that thrives in dry heat, was spotted for the first time in the Americas on cotton farms in drought-prone western Bahia in early 2012, fuelling panic among farmers who had no idea what it was. The caterpillar was soon in soybean fields thousands of km away thanks to the long-distance flying power of its moths, consuming everything from tomatoes to sorghum. While crop losses have thus far been limited, Brazil is now on red alert over the nations third major pest outbreak in 30 years. Officials have stepped up port controls, farmers are rethinking planting patterns and the hardest hit are blaming the governments cumbersome bureaucracy for not allowing the import of pesticides that have helped control the bug in other nations. Most importantly, the caterpillar appears to be eating away at Brazils proud claim to have conquered the craft of growing reliable crops in a tropical region where pests and disease can spread more quickly than for other major growers. When you find helicoverpa armigera you have to act immediately, while they are still small, said Rudelvi Bombarda, who farms 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) with his brother in So Desidrio, a dusty farming hub in western Bahia. Bombarda found his first helicoverpa armigera in a bean plant. He knew by the way the fattened, worm-like creature had chewed its way inside the pod, beyond the reach of chemicals, that it was not one of Brazils usual leaf-eating pests. If you wait and send it to a lab it will be too late, he said. Bahia, one of Brazils newest farming frontiers, lost 3 million tons of soy and cotton, nearly half of its usual grains production, between the caterpillar and the drought last year, according to the National Confederation of Agriculture. Still, Brazil produced an 81.5 million ton soybean crop. To be sure, the caterpillar has not reduced forecasts for an even larger soybean harvest that could dethrone the United States as the worlds leading grower this year. But it has provided a wake-up call on the risks of farming in the bug-ridden tropics, especially as more farmland is put into use. It also shows how Brazils emergence as a major breadbasket has made it the fastest-growing market for biotechnology firms like Monsanto, which could benefit from the outbreak by selling its new caterpillar-resistant genetically modified soy and cotton seeds. It changed everything The governments agricultural research agency Embrapa determined helicoverpa armigera was a new species in Brazil last February, a year after farmers in Bahia had noticed it was different from other pests and seemed immune to pesticides. No one was expecting a species like this, said Alexandre Specht, the researcher whose microscope identified the caterpillar at a laboratory outside Brasilia. The government is still studying how helicoverpa armigera arrived in Brazil. In the absence of a conclusive explanation, rumours of a bioterrorist attack occasionally surface. l

Myanmar backtracks on aid group expulsion n Agencies

A day after Doctors Without Borders announced its expulsion from Myanmar, the government has backpedaled, saying the aid group will be allowed to resume operations everywhere but Rakhine, a state plagued by bouts of sectarian violence, reports Aljazeera. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning group, known by its French acronym MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres ), said in a statement that it had been allowed to resume work in Kashin and Shan states, as well as the Yangon region. While MSF is encouraged by this and will resume these activities for now, MSF remains extremely concerned about the fate of tens of thousands of vulnerable people in Rakhine state who currently face a humanitarian medical crisis, it said. The group has been giving care in Rakhine state to both ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, a mostly stateless minority who live in apartheid-like conditions and who otherwise have little access to health care. The United Nations and human rights groups say at least 40 Rohingya were killed by security forces and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist civilians in a restricted area of the state in January. l

A variety of caterpillar known as the helicoverpa armigera climbs up a leaf at the Embrapa research station in Brasilia

REUTERS

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY

Monday, March 3, 2014

Letters to

the Editor

Pay the proper price for power

ubsidies for diesel and electricity are rapidly rising out of control and need to be curtailed. A large part of government expenditure is solely going to subsidise fuel oil for quick rental power plants. Since 2010, government subsidy for fuel oil has gone up by over 450%. This level and type of subsidy is not sustainable. The country badly needs to move faster to a broader energy mix that is more sustainable both economically and environmentally. By artificially keeping the costs of fuel oil, diesel and electricity low, the government only encourages waste by consumers and discourages investment in alternate fuel sources. Moreover it wastes a lot of money subsidising costs for consumers who can afford to pay the proper price, and power companies are left with less funds and incentive to invest in efficiency improvements. The best way to rectify this picture is to make consumers pay the proper price for power. Raising the price of power will automatically increase the incentive for more investment to be made in generating capacity and improving efficiency. The government should stop subsidising diesel and electricity. That way businesses and consumers would gain more incentive to reduce waste and invest in renewables like solar power and biogas. Taxpayers would also benefit as the money the government saves by reducing fuel and power subsidies could be applied to education and health. It will be better for the long term for the government to support moves to reduce subsidies and raise electricity prices. This is preferable to incurring more expenditure and wasting funds subsidising power companies.

Bedlam in Dhaka city

February 28 Everyday people face difficulties due to the shoddy state of transport facilities and the traffic congestion, which our new cabinet does not have to face. We are all aware of how the streets are cleared for them. This brings up a simple question: Are they even representative of the public? Many families rent homes in Dhaka simply to stay here while their children attend school in the city. And the wife of a friend of mine, a service holder, faces problems everyday taking her children to school. They cant take public buses because they are full, with people hanging off the doorways. We all agree that decentralisation is crucial, as is development. Unicef has already decentralised its offices into divisional/district levels, and almost all staff have shifted to these divisional and district level offices in Mymenshing, Bogra, Khulna and so on. Reputed institutions from the secondary to tertiary level should have built and shifted to branch institutions in the divisional towns as well in the district towns. Without decentralisation of offices and many other institutions, without taking concrete and beneficial steps to improve the transport situation, Dhaka will continue to be unlivable. The government needs to decentralise and make Dhaka liveable asap. Merina Hossain Mita

59 children killed at Nigerian school

February 26 What can I say, Im a little lost for words. What a tragedy! Is this the face of Islam? Boko Harams leaders preach that the Quran and Hadith supposedly say that modern (Western) education is a sin, which is complete BS. The following quotations by Prophet Muhammad, just to list a few: (1) Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave, (2) The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr, (3) The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male and female, (4) He does not die, who takes learning, (5) To listen to the words of the learned and to instill into the lessons of science is better than religious exercises, (6) Go in search of knowledge even into China, (7) One scholar has more power over the devil than a thousand devout men, (8) It is an obligation for every Muslim to seek knowledge, (9) Anyone who pursues a course in search of knowledge, God will ease his way to paradise. Intolerance! Intolerance! Intolerance! The bane of humanity. Sujan E Bin Wadud

Subsidies for diesel and electricity need to be curtailed

Child marriage: Dreams of a minor saved

February 26 chinnu If you are that poor and cant support them, why have kids? I hope the parents and the groom are punished. Vicky The groom should be arrested! A 44-year-old man does not marry a 10-year-old child to take care of his minor son. For him it was just an opportunity to have sex with a child the legal way. I do not believe the father of the child either; protecting the future of his daughter by forcing her into child marriage with a person 4 times her age?! Probably the father made a (financial) deal with the much older groom. One word: disgusting! I salute the BNWLA because of their courage!

Extremists convert indigenous children to Islam

February 26 VK Our government should wake up! Now! a Im glad they discovered this. How can we be secular if people are always trying to force things on us? Can we expect an article on Muslims being coerced into converting to Christianity in the north as well?

No room for innocence

February 26 Thanks and congrats for this well-written article about a subject (child rights abuse) that Bangladeshi society does not wish to discuss and refuses to recognise. Vikram Khan

Fakhrul: Asia cup opening disrespects BDR martyrs

February 25 I dont really agree with Mr Mirza Fakhrul on this matter. No more than I ever agreed with many peoples exaggerated, trivial complaints about Begum Zia celebrating her birthday on August 15. I dont imagine that our collective memory and grief surrounding that tragic day of carnage, five years ago to the day, is in any way dishonoured or belittled by the opening of the Asia Cup tournament on this day. However, its obvious that for a sporting tournament staged at home, the government had both the opportunity and the prerogative to easily alter the date, if only as a symbolic gesture of respect to the commemoration on this fifth anniversary. Ronnie

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Cleaning up the capital

Katy Perry music video enrages Muslims over God pendant

February 26 When are people going to stop reacting to things that are so obviously created to trigger exactly that?! Stop feeding into this nonsense! Christine Hanna

he high level of pollution in our capital is one of the main contributors to making it one of the worst livable cities in the world. As a city that takes in over 300,000 people every year, the situation will only get worse unless we take urgent action to mitigate pollution and clean up the city. Dhaka suffers from myriad types of pollution from poor garbage management, industrial waste and air pollution to noise pollution. The government alone cannot tackle a task this mammoth. The innovative power of the private sector can be an important force in reducing pollution in all areas - from investment in more eco friendly energy solutions to forming efficient and green garbage collection companies. The government however needs to take the initiative to partner with the private sector and create more regulatory space for them to help solve these public problems. At the same time, private citizens need to play their part in changing the entrenched attitude of complacency to pollution. A recent recycling and composting initiative from the Baridhara society has demonstrated how partnership between citizen groups and the private sector can create commercially viable solutions to clean up neighbourhoods. Creating a cleaner and more livable Dhaka does not necessarily require expensive solutions, but it does require collective action from all parts of our society. It is time that we mobilised all the tools in our toolbox to solve this problem.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Creating a cleaner and more livable Dhaka requires action from all parts of society

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Male sheep (3) 3 Restricts (6) 8 Greedy (4) 9 Pithy saying (3) 10 Smooth and even (mus) (6) 11 Spanish currency unit (6) 14 Field diversion (5) 17 Teaching periods (5) 20 Approached (6) 24 Worshipped (6) 26 Long-leaved lettuce (3) 27 Incites (4) 28 Whole 6) 29 Corn spike (3) DOWN 1 Slope between (4) 2 Planet (4) 3 Cadence (4) 4 Notions (5) 5 Adult insect (5) 6 Small child (3) 7 Plump (5) 12 Female sheep (3) 13 Tree (3) 15 Vegetable (3) 16 Regret (3) 17 Vestige (5) 18 Henhouse (5) 19 Show contempt (5) 21 Border (4) 22 Trick (44) 23 Sullen (4) 25 Put on (3)

SUDOKU

YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword

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
T I

Monday, March 3, 2014

11
E D E N

Marriages under the magnifying glass

n Towheed Feroze
s an adult, almost everyone has to face the question can you find out more about that particular girl or boy? Its related to a marriage proposal. Within the South Asian context, such a request is of grave importance because, based on the information found and delivered, a significant step like marriage can be either pursued or dropped. Therefore, if the finding is that the prospective bride is seen being dropped by male friends or colleagues, then the message conveyed is definitely not a hundred percent positive, though a lift from work or the university by a male friend can be a totally harmless matter.

How the message is delivered to the inquirer has a direct impact on marital prospects

Now, one has to always remember what Oscar Wilde said there can be enmity, love, jealousy between a man and a woman, but never friendship. Perhaps I may draw some flak with that line, though I am compelled to say Oscar has a valid point there. Right, so how the message is delivered to the inquirer has a direct impact on marital prospects. For example, if the person asked to do the sleuthing says that the girl in question is seen moving around with men all the time, then naturally the marriage potentiality gets a jolt. This is why most girls who are to be married follow some strict social movement restrictions. Okay, what brought on this topic? It was a BBC special report on the rise of the usage of marriage detectives in India who go sleuthing for any dark spots on the reputation of a possible bride or groom. Of course, in many cases, modern men and women do their own selection, taking human shortcomings as normal, and in these cases such probing investigation may

not be needed. The problem is when the marriage is arranged and both sides want to be absolutely certain that the other side is speaking the truth. As for the records, even today, arranged marriage is the choice of most parents, especially in South Asia. Now, one cannot wonder if speaking the truth will actually work in favour or not. Take Bangladesh for instance. If a guy is found to be drinking with friends occasionally, would that be spelled out in an attempt to be fully honest?Ki! Chele modh khae!(the guy drinks alcohol) would quickly place him as a drunken sod. In reality, the guy may be just a wine connoisseur, having two to three glasses on special nights. Then again, the guy can also be a drink-lover. Considering all angles, marriage detectives are possibly the need of the time because, with the extension of society plus the expansion of the middle class, its difficult to do a reliable background check depending on friends and acquaintances. Also, it is good to remember that a potentially auspicious match can be foiled by envious relatives too. Hence, while the drinking habit is highlighted, the genteel nature of the guy, his ever-smiling demeanour supported by his solid career status may be deliberately left out. This reminds me of a real life experience where an informant came and said that a particular man could not be considered at all because as a young man he used to hang out with drug addicts near the infamous Nilkhet slum. He was dubbed heroinchi (meaning a heroin addict) by the informant. The truth was, for a certain period, the man under scrutiny went awry, but as soon as he got into university, renounced all bad habits. In Dhaka, several fraudulent marriage match-making agencies were busted in recent times for using a band of young women to lure expatriate grooms with the sole aim of swindling them of money taken ostensibly for wedding costs. That demure, soft spoken woman turned out to be a hustler who had also shared intimate moments with plenty of other men to make the con job appear trustworthy.

Till rumours do us part? Then there are men who carefully present themselves to be wealthy, settled, and of a respectable background, to rope in a girl from an affluent family. This is the oldest trick in the book immortalised in the much acclaimed movie called Ghuddi, featuring Asad and Suborna Mustafa. owning a large shopping mall in town. To catch her attention, he devised an elaborate plan of deceit initially, he met the girl driving a new car for the first few months, giving the impression that he was financially sound. The dress-up was impeccable, the fragrances used top-notch (they were us who warned were dismissed as envy-stricken friends and the marriage went ahead. Images created by lies, especially for matrimonial purposes, usually make the loudest noise when they fall. This was no exception. The cars disappeared fast. It was found that his main source of earning was from fixing other peoples vehicles. Candlelight dinners with lofty promises were supplanted by the pressure to use the girls fathers influence to get something concrete for the boy. Lord Byrons lines were transplanted by lines from Hindi soap operas. Cupid turned into a gargoyle as the marriage collapsed. Maybe if detectives had been employed for the final check, the disaster could have been averted or minimised. Reportedly, in India, to test the strength of character of a man, honey

BIGSTOCK

With the extension of society plus the expansion of the middle class, its difficult to do a reliable background check depending on acquaintances
Another real life incident comes to mind a friend of mine who used to be involved in second-hand car trade (Jharbatti gaari),had his eyes fixed on a girl who was the eldest daughter of a man often loaned from others), and romantic conversations were peppered with lines from Byron under the haunting aura of scented candles. Obviously, she fell for it. Those of

traps are laid using aspiring actors. Man, do they want a human or an ascetic? From the western perspective, this does not sound fair. Before being shackled, a guy will always want a final night of wild fun (bachelors night out), preferably with a playboy bunny stepping out of a large cake. Guess what the detective report will be if something similar is replicated in Bangladesh. To end with a joke: An informer said, the prospective groom is perfect, but only eats too many onions; and he does not eat onions every day, just when he eats chickpeas, which is accompanied by a few pegs of whisky, and he does not drink every day either, just when he brings home a dancer for private viewing l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Looking East
E
n M Niaz Asadullah
ast Asian countries are once again making headlines ininternational media. This time its not because of their double digit economic growth rates. Rather, its for topping global league tables for educational outcomes. In 2012, more than half a million 15-year-old children from Asia, Europe, and North America took part in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) study. When the results were announced, China (Shanghai) secured the top position. The top 10 countries also included Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea. Out of 65 countries, the UK was ranked 26th in math. Not so long ago, China was a laggard in secondary education even compared to some of its Asian neighbours. Therefore its rise as the highest achiever in secondary education, and that too in alldomains of learning math, reading, and science have surprised many. For a developing country as vast and diverse as China, comparing student performance in a city like Shanghai with that of an entire country like the UK is somewhat inappropriate. A large number of Chinese children still dont participate in secondary education, even in urban areas, whilst participation is universal in the UK and the US. Nonetheless, some of the variations in learning outcomes observed across the UK and China students provide food for thought for policymakers around the world, including Bangladesh. According to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published last year, only 3% of 15-year-old European children reach the highest level of math performance compared to 30% in Shanghai. Most shocking however is the finding that children of cleaners in Shanghai and Singapore outperform the sons and daughters of UK doctors and lawyers in global math tests. The rise of quality secondary schools in East Asia has not gone unnoticed among policymakers in Europe. Worried about its sliding standard in secondary education, Liz Truss, the minister for education in the UK, has gone as far as advocating that the UK needs to look East and borrow teaching and learning techniques that are made in China. Her conviction had taken her to China last week where she inspected schools in person. At the heart of Chinas education revival is the renewed focus on teacher quality. The shortage of trained and effective teachers in developing countries has also been highlighted as a global problem by this years UNESCO report on Education for All. China succeeded not only in filling this gap by hiring the right teachers to educate children, the institutional mechanism was also there to hold teachers accountable. Chinese teachers have to ensure that they assist children who fall behind in terms of performance, irrespective of whether they belong to a small group or a large classroom. the opposite. According to the 2012 ISAS report prepared by the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education of the Bangladesh government, as high as 22% of our secondary schools are either poorly-performing or not performing at all. No action was taken against these schools so that a year later, follow-up assessment returned a similar percentage of non-performing schools. Performance gaps are even bigger when rural-urban comparisons are made. This is consistent with existing independent assessment of rural secondary schools in Bangladesh. Even within the rural area, test scores vary by a big margin according to the childrens economic background. Bangladesh has already forged an effective development partnership with China in many areas, and is currently seeking Chinese support to bridge our infrastructure deficit. Considering Chinas educational progress, we should extend this policy of looking East for education-management as well by borrowing good teaching and learning practices from the region. When a country like the UK takes China seriously, educationists in Bangladesh cant overlook this regional success story. Of course in many ways our education challenge is complex. In addition to the problem of high dropouts from primary education cycle, enrolling children in secondary schools remains outside the choice set of most Bangladeshi factory workers and cleaners. More importantly, low qualityat all levels of education remains the most difficultof all challenges. Simply increasing budgetary allocation doesnt always lead to improved learning outcomes. This is wherecontinued regional exchange of ideas for educational development is crucial.Lessons fromChinese schools can be informative towards designing interventionstoclose the quality gap inour education system. l M Niaz Asadullah is a Professor of Economics at Malaya University (Kuala Lumpur) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Inundation nation
I
n John Finnie
was born and brought up in the Highlands of Scotland, an area I am now proud to represent in the Scottish Parliament. A strong supporter of Scottish independence, like most sharing that stance, I am first and foremost an internationalist who cares about humanity. I am Convener of the Scottish Parliaments Cross-party Group on Human Rights and a Member of the Justice and Equal Opportunities Committee and work closely with NGOs and environmental groups. The world over, we all have much more in common than we have differences. Our basic needs are food, water and shelter. Yet, rather than build on these common interests, too often its our differences that take centre stage. Like the vast majority living in the developed world, acquiring those basic needs has never been a challenge to me or my family. However, each of those fundamental human rights represents a daily challenge for billions around the globe, and for many millions in Bangladesh. Politics is about power and influence and it pains me that multi-national corporations, many whose wealth exceeds that of sovereign nations, undermine democratic process, often through bribery and corruption, in the blind pursuit of profit. An increasing proportion of that profit comes from exploiting developing countries like Bangladesh whose natural and human resources are drained. Whilst the fiduciary duty of a limited company is to maximise profit for its shareholders, I think that respect for humanity, respect for our environment and a wish to see a more equal world should trump that socalled duty. The developed nations who achieved their wealth by exploiting and polluting our planet now seek to impose their new-found environmental standards on the developing world, very much a case of do as I say, not as I did. Sadly, the developed worlds hypocrisy knows no bounds, enthusiastically importing cheap goods, often produced at a significant cost to the humans in the production line, and at great cost to our already polluted planet. Technologies to mitigate pollution can be costly and will be passed on to the consumer.I fear that any cost benefits analysis undertaken by corporations or governments would place short-term financial benefit ahead of the wider global obligations we all have. I see an urgent moral imperative underpinning how we address the global challenge of man-made climate change, and key to that is education with the developed world leading by example. The Scottish governments innovative Climate Justice Fund has been warmly welcomed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former UN High Commissioner Mary Robinson. It was recently doubled from 3m to 6m, an important signal in these times of severe economic restraint, yet only a drop in the ocean of what is required. In the meantime, that money is going to support projects in related areas of water, food and energy in the same partner countries identified in Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Whilst I understand the wish of the Scottish government to sustain projects already funded, I have written asking for consideration of future Climate Justice funding for Bangladesh. Im delighted that the Scottish government prioritises helping the needs

Our basic needs are food, water and shelter. Yet, rather than build on these common interests, too often its our differences that take centre stage
A few years ago, to world acclaim, Scotlands Parliament became the first nation to pass laws imposing climate change targets. Those targets have proven challenging and, thus far at least, have not been met, perhaps a sign of their worth, and the additional effort needed. Of course the actions of one nation alone, not least a small one of 5 million people on the periphery of Western Europe, cannot make significant change nor arrest the process of change. Sadly, those sceptical, or in denial of climate change, have had a resurgence as of late, most notably in the new anti-climate change government in Australia. The United States commitment to tackling the man-made climate change is at best lukewarm. It appears easier to deny, or do nothing, rather than explain a drop in profits to your shareholders.

When a country like the UK takes China seriously, educationists in Bangladesh cant overlook this

Whilst the UK, still praised by many Bangladeshi parents for its world class school system, is keen to learn from East Asias recent success, these international developments have not caused any debate in Bangladesh. The reason is quite obvious Bangladeshi schools do not participate in international assessment exercises similar to the PISA test. This is not because our vernacular secondary schools are performing too satisfactorily to require outside inspection. If anything, facts suggest

of climate-vulnerable people, recognising the disproportionate effect the impact of climate change can have on the poor, women, and children in developing countries. I want to see the phrase climate justice not only being talked about, but also delivered in a meaningful way for countries like Bangladesh. I fear we are a long way off from that goal; however, with the international co-operation I know exists to help Bangladesh, and with a genuine will to make our small planet a better place for future generations, we can achieve much. l John Finnie is an Independent Member of the Scottish Parliament, representing the Highlands and Islands region. This article was previously published in the blog Alochonaa.com.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk

Monday, March 3, 2014

AR Rahman and Akon to perform in Dhaka

Farhan promotes Shadi Ke Side Effects in Dhaka

Famous Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar came to Dhaka yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur during the much anticipated match between India and Pakistan. The winner of the latest Filmfare award as best actor, it was Farhans first trip to Bangladesh and he twitted yesterday morning: Off to Dhaka this morning... never been before... curious to experience the city. The producers of Farhans upcoming film Shadi Ke Side Effects chose the venue for promoting the film since the whole media of the subcontinent were sup- Farhan Akhtar at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in posed to be eyeing the Mirpur MUMIT M match. And yes, the star successfully grabbed the attention of the jam-packed viewers and media. Star Sports broadcasted a live session with the superstar and he talked about the film which also features Vidya Balan opposite him. Bangladesh has a very big audience of Bollywood films and their craze for cricket make more common fields of interests with India for marketing their products. In 2012 Asia Cup, another Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar visited Bangladesh during an India-Pakistan match to promote the film Houseful 2. l

TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
Avatar 3D 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 Robocop, Gravity, Captain Phillips, Elysium Time: 12:30pm 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas, Jamuna Future Park, Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue, Kuril

Exhibition

Fragments of the Unknown By Najma Akhter, Time: 12pm 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi War and Colonies 1914 1918 Rare photographs of World War II Time: 3pm 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka

AR Rahman

Akon et Board for the upcoming T-20 world cup, confirmed an official of BCB. This will be the first ever tour to Bangladesh for both the artistes. The source said there were many speculations about the concert but yesterday the two internationally acclaimed artistes and two local bands LRB and Mileshave confirmed to perform in the concert. Some more local bands and celebrated soloists like Kumar Biswajit, Sabina Yasmin and Runa Laila are also in talks for the mega concert. However, the tickets of the show will be distributed only after confirmation of all the artistes and the distribution process has not been disclosed yet. l

Film Festival

n Entertainment Desk
Oscar winning Indian composer and singer AR Rahman and Senegalese American R&B and hip hop icon Akon are set to enchant the audience of Dhaka on March 13 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. They will perform at the concert organised by Bangladesh Crick-

7th International Childrens Film Festival Time: 4:00pm 6:30pm Shawkat Osman Hall, Central Public Library, Shahbag

Theatre Festival

Childrens Theatre Festival Time: 6:00pm 8:30pm Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha

Bangladesh Street Theatre Festival commences

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak
With the motto Pothonatokei Lorai Aamar Osamprodayik Desh Gorar, a weeklong street theatre festival titled Bangladesh Street Theatre Festival-2014 began at the Central Shaheed Minar on March 1. Bangladesh Street Theatre Parishad has been organising the festival for the last 12 years. Cultural Affairs Minister, Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the event. He said: Street theatre is a powerful weapon to protest all forms of disparity, exploitation and communalism in the society. Cultural activist has obligation to unmask the malevolent forces through theatre, music, poetry, fine art, film and literature. said Asaduzzaman Noor. The guests placed a floral wreath on the altar of Central Shaheed Minar, and observed a one-minute silence in memory of the martyrs. Mahakal Natya Sampraday showcased a protest dance titled Jago, directed by Aminul Ashraf, which highlights the post-election communal violence and vandalism that happened recently all across the country. The second session started with Joratali staged by Dristipat Natya Sangsad written by MA Salam and directed by Kazi Anis. The protagonist appears as the conscience of Bangladesh and raises question about the political anomalies and corruption with reference of history. Mrittika Kathon, written and directed by Kazi Delwar Hemanto was brought to the stage by Manosh Natya Angan. The play symbolically portrays a happy Bangalee community, where everyone wholeheartedly tries to protect their cultural heritage from dacoitsglobalisation. The opening days performance came to an end with staging a street theatre titled Koibolyo. Written and directed by Sanjiban Shikdar and Kazi Taufiqul Islam Emon, the street theatre production was presented by Opera. Today, Moitri Theatre, Aranyak Natyadal, Prachyanat, Choukash Natya Sampradaya and Natyaroth are going to stage Bornochora, Aaguner Dalpala, Mohabidya, Aadab and Katatare Nil Poddo respectively. A total of forty theatre troupes from across the country are participating in the festival. l
QUAMRUL ABEDIN

QUAMRUL ABEDIN

Chhayanaut welcomes Spring

n Shadma Malik
Welcoming the Bangla months of Phalgun and Choitra, Chhayanaut held Boshonto Utshob to celebrate the colourful spring at the Chhayanaut auditorium on March 1 evening. Chhayanaut celebrates the arrival of the season of flowers every year with colourful performances and this years edition again gave rejoice to the houseful audience. The show featured music, dance and recitation narrating the exquisiteness of the vibrant season. Marking the occasion, the girls were dressed in yellow saree with red blouses and flowers in the hair while men wore red panjabis. The show commenced with the performance of Asit Deys khayal based on raga Boshonto. Next a group dance performance with live rendition of the song Amar Bone Bone Dhorlo Mukul made everyone feel the rebirth of nature during Spring. A duet dance performance with the song Fagun Hawai Hawai gave an interpretation of the soothing breeze of the season. The back to back solo performances like Ektuku Choya Lage by ATM Jahangir, Elo Oi Bononte Pagal Boshonto by Sumon Majumdar and Phul Phaguner Elo Morshum by Shamima Parvin Shimu enchanted the audience. The show concluded with the rendition of the national anthem. The show was enriched with acoustic instrumentation including piano, esraj, key-board, and mandira. l

A scene from play Joratali by Dristipat Natya Sangsad

Childrens Film Festival gives them wings to fly: Morshedul Islam

n Afrose Jahan Chaity
The Seventh International Childrens Film Festival organised by Childrens Film Society is going on at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium at the Public Library, Alliance Francaise De Dhaka, Russian Cultural Centre and Daffodil University. The festival is also taking place in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Rangpur and Barisal. Festival Director Morshedul Islam, also an eminent filmmaker, shared his thoughts and visions about the festival with the Dhaka Tribune: What is the main purpose of organising this festival? The International Childrens Film Festival is all about children. Their achievement is our gain. We want to use film as the tool to improve their imagination and overall betterment as human beings. The main spirit of the festival is the enormous enthusiasm of our children. We strongly believe that the festival will have a major contribution to create a new world of creativity for our children in near future. What are the features of this years festival? The festival has generated interest in children over the years. They wait for it and during the event, they make it alive by their footsteps. All the volunteers of the festival are children. A total of 40 child filmmakers from forguage. I want them to learn through films. Previously, we worked with many children who are now working hard to emerge as full-fledged film makers. Film is a powerful medium which can represent social, cultural and ethical values and can educate very easily. I also hope that the festival will help them to be more creative and give them wings to fly towards their dreams. Why the 7th edition had late start? It is very unfortunate that after organising six international film festivals for children successfully, we had to go under huge budget constraints, without any support from some major partners. We tried desperately for funds but failed to convince sponsors. But, the fact is that, no obstacle could stop us from holding the festival and through small scales, the festival is being held simultaneously in six cities of the country. Do you think that film making should be included as a subject in school syllabus? Yes, I am thinking to propose government to include film making in school syllabus. Kids learn something new every day by observing, listening, adapting and in many ways. Film can play a major role in their education system. l

Liam Neesons Non-Stop takes lead in box office with $10m

n Entertainment Desk
Universals Non-Stop, starring Liam Neeson, surged ahead to take the lead in the weekend box office, snagging the spot from The Lego Movie, according to Forbes. Along with Neeson, the film stars Julianna Moore and 12 Years a Slaves Oscar-nominated Lupita Nyongo. The Los Angeles Times reported that the action-packed film is expected to bring in $20 million over the course of the weekend. 20th Century Foxs biblical film Son of God took the second spot and brought in $9.4m. The film was developed from the History Channels hit television miniseries, The Bible. According to The Los Angeles Times, churches and religious organizations have helped build hype and earnings for the film by renting out theaters and buying bulk amounts of tickets. The movie could possibly pass up NonStop for the top spot this weekend, and the trade analysts expect it to break even (it cost $22 million to make). l

Morshedul Islam eign countries are attending this years edition. Their films are competing in different segments of the festival. These films are selected from more than 60 submissions from all around the country. Five films will finally be selected for awards by a five member jury comprised of children. We have invited different schools and colleges to bring their students. What are your expectations from this festival? Children want to watch their films in their lan-

Did you know?

Misbah-ul-Haq has been run out in two consecutive ODI appearances for the third time in his career

Sport

Monday, March 3, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

0 1 3
DAYS TO GO

14 Federer downs

Berdych for sixth Dubai Open

15 Toure, Nasri

blasts bring City League Cup joy

Misbah praises amazing Afridi, team spirit

It was a cracker of a match as was expected between the two archrivals India and Pakistan where the match moved like a pendulum till the last over when Shahid Afridi finally showed what he is known for, where Misbah ul Haq informed it was a very important win for them and this win will boost their confidence as they were earlier criticized for not being able to chase under pressure, at the Shere-Bangla National stadium yesterday. In my opinion, this was a very important win. We were under pressure with four wickets down but Hafeez and Maqsood put together a partnership. After that, Afridi finished the game in the way he did. We have been criticised for not being able to chase well under pressure. But today we have shown that we can do it. The confidence of the team will be boosted, said Misbah. Shahid Afridi who is known for his big hitting ability, was not able to show what he is capable earlier but the 34 year old played a blistering knock of 34 runs off 18 balls, hitting three sixes, two of them in the last over ensuring the win for Pakistan when the batting side needed nine runs from four balls where Misbah said that this was one of the best innings from Afridi. We expect innings like that from him. Whenever he gives time in the middle and play sensibly, he can be very dangerous. He already did it quite few times, and this was one of his best innings, he said. Meanwhile the debutant fast bowler Mohammad Talha who bowled well bending his backs taking two wickets from seven over and giving away 22 runs in a pressure match. Misbah informed that they kept him as a surprise package especially for the match against India. Indian captain Virat Kohli said, I think one of their main player comes back. He was missing in the first two games. They are a good side in their own conditions. We are not relaxed, do our basics right and try to win that game. The way we played today to defend 245, the effort was good by the bowlers, the rest yes we are doing mistakes regularly which we need to solve. In every game if we make three to four mistakes it becomes costly. Our team is a bit inexperienced in both bowling and batting. But we learn from mistakes and hopefully it will be better in the future. Asked why he brought Ashwin on in the last over, the captain said it was a chance which he took as he was looking for wickets. I knew if I put the seamers in before Ashwin they will go for it and wickets is all we wanted if they played singles they would have easily won. I wanted them to hit the ball. In the end we almost made it, the last two sixes were not from the middle of the bat. I am proud of the way the team showed character on the field. Its not easy to defend 245 but the guys showed character, he said. l

SCORECARD
India R Sharma c Hafeez b Talha S Dhawan lbw b Hafeez V Kohli c Akmal b Gul A Rahane c Hafeez b Talha A Rayudu c sub (Ali) b Ajmal D Karthik c Ajmal b Hafeez R Jadeja not out R Ashwin st Akmal b Ajmal Shami c Maqsood b Ajmal A Mishra not out Extras: (lb3, w5) Fall of wickets 1 18, 2 56, 3 92, 4 103, 5 155, 6 214, 7 237, 8 237 Bowling Hafeez 9 0 38 2, Gul 9 0 60 1, Junaid 7 0 44 0, Afridi 8 0 38 0, Talha 7 122 2, Ajmal 10 0 40 3 Pakistan Sharjeel Khan b Ashwin Ahmed Shehzad c Ashwin b Mishra Hafeez c Kumar b Ashwin Misbah-ul-Haq run out Umar Akmal c Jadeja b Mishra Sohaib Maqsood run out Shahid Afridi not out Umar Gul c Rahane b Kumar Mohammad Talha c Jadeja b Kumar Saeed Ajmal b Ashwin Junaid Khan not out Extras: (lb11, w6) Fall of wickets 1 71, 2 93, 3 96, 4 113, 5 200, 6 203, 7 235, 8 236, 9 236 Bowling Kumar 10 0 56 2, Shami 10 0 49 0, Ashwin 9.4 0 44 3, Jadeja 10 1 61 0, Mishra 10 0 28 2 Pakistan won by one wicket. MoM: Mohammad Hafeez 25 42 75 1 4 38 34 12 0 0 1 17 56 10 5 23 58 23 52 9 0 1 8

Mohammad Hafiz of Pakistan flicks to square leg against India in the Asia Cup cricket at the SBNS yesterday

MUMIT M

Brazilian embassy to start World Cup countdown

The embassy of Brazil in Dhaka will start the 100 day countdown of the 2014 FIFA World Cup at the embassy premises tomorrow. To celebrate the occasion, the embassy has planned to hang ceremonial lights from top to bottom of the building and of course, the colours will be green and yellow, the Brazilian trade mark. Wanja Campos da Nbrega, the ambassador of Brazil to Bangladesh will inaugurate the ceremony. The 20th FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place in Brazil from 12 June to 13 July 2014. It will be the second time that Brazil will be hosting the top football tournament of the world, the previous being in 1950. Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 as FIFA decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall. l

Afghanistan confident ahead of Sri Lanka tie

From the moment Afghanistan landed in Dhaka to take part in their first major 50-over tournament, the Asia Cup, they made their intentions clear to let the world know of their caliber and capabilities. After scaring their neighbors Pakistan in their first match, the Afghans showed strong character to win their maiden match against a Test playing nation, Bangladesh. Afghanistan will face Sri Lanka at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium today and their left-arm spinner Hamza Hotak once again reminded what their plan is against the former world champions while he also gave a glimpse of their die-hard mentality. On both their outings in the Asia Cup so far, the Afghans threw themselves on the field and displayed breathtaking performance against the big names in world cricket. A small cricketing nation is always thought to be nervous or puzzled against the big teams, but Hamza said they follow a very simple method. To be honest we dont worry about the big names. We just look at the bat, the ball and the wicket during a game, said Hamza after their practice session at the National Cricket Academy ground yesterday. Hamza, who follows Pakistani leftarm spinner Adbur Rahman, said they will Give a tough time to Sri Lanka. We have plans in hand and hope we will be able to execute them well. After playing the first two matches at Fatullah, it will be the first time Afghanistan will take the field at SBNS and Hamza informed that their playing eleven is still undecided and it will depend on how the wicket looks, The pitches are working good for both the spinners and the fast bowlers, so we will see. The win against Bangladesh was the biggest moment for Afghanistan cricket till date and the celebration was also not limited. The win was great. We won against a Test playing nation and it was a big thing for us. The dressing room was nervous basically 90 for 5. But Asghar [Stanikzai] and Samiullah Shenwari stood up and eventually did a great job for the team. The president and the finance minister called us to congratulate us and say that we played well. I talked to my family back in Afghanistan and they were very happy for us. All people back home came out of home and chanted Afghan, Afghan, Afghan, he said. Hamza also thought that their win will be a boost for them in their match against India. Yes, the win against Bangladesh will boost us when we face India as the win was against a Test nation. So we should do good against the other teams too, Hamza said. l

Total (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 245

Total (for nine wickets, 49.4 overs) 249

MOMENTS
The catch was mine: Hafeez
Dismissal of India opener Rohit Sharma saw Hafeez almost collide under the declining ball after deep square leg also ran in. They suffered glancing blows, but not before Hafeez swallowed a lovely grab to make Rohit go back to the dressing for a 58-ball 56. This followed with Hafeez gesture indicting that it was his take. However later into the innings, Hafeez dropped a sitter of Ravindra Jadeja off his own delivery. Jadeja went for a slog sweep, Hafeez called settled under the ball, but only to see it pop out of his hands. He couldnt catch it even on the second attempt.

Bangladesh in turmoil
Series of bad performances turned worse when Bangladesh hit the low against associate playing nation Afghanistan in their Asia Cup match on Saturday. The 32-run defeat at Fatullah made the Bangladesh Cricket Board president sit with the captain and the coach alone in separate sittings to identify the problem if there is any, informed BCB director Jalal Younus. The president sat with the captain and the coach in separate meetings today (yesterday) to find out what is troubling the side and what the reasons behind this dip in performances are, said Jalal. However, it was not revealed what was the outcome of the meeting, but it was learnt that Mushfiqur Rahim complained about the casual approach of some players. It was learnt Mushfiq took four names to the president Shamsur Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Naeem Islam and Abdur Razzak who he thought have been laid back lately and are not giving their 100% for the team. Meanwhile the blame game between the Bangladesh skipper and national chief selector Faruk Ahmed, which started prior to the Asia Cup after the Tigers had a horrible ODI series against Sri Lanka, continued when the latter urged Mushfiq to bring his questions up during the team meeting and not just in front of the media. Mushfiq, who earlier had an outburst regarding the Asia Cup team selection, said after losing to Afghanistan that the team management should look in to the matter behind the defeat. Whatever he says in the media Mushfiq should also say that during the team managements meeting when we talk about our team plan, said Faruk. The defeat against Afghanistan was Bangladeshs most humiliating defeats since they obtained Test status though they had earlier lost to Canada, Ireland, Netherlands and Kenya. The former Bangladesh captain Faruk was disappointed with the result against Afghanistan and said, I never thought Bangladesh would lose the match. I am very disappointed but the fact is if we miss so many catches its difficult to win a match and our twothree players are out of form at the same time cost us, said the 48-yearold who took charge of the position, for the second time in his career, just two months ago. With only two weeks left for the T20 World Championship, Bangladesh must rectify their problems and start working on it before it gets too late for the Tigers. Or else they might have to be a mere spectator during the multi-national event on their own backyard. l

Impressive debut for Talah

Pakistan has always been known to produce world class fast bowlers and a glimpse of probably another of their future product was on display at the SBNS yesterday. Mohammad Talha, the 62 left-arm quickie was handed a debut against archrivals India in the Asia Cup yesterday and boy didnt he deliver the goods in the crunch match. He generated not only pace, but bounce as well from the Mirpur wicket which is generally slow and low in nature. Talha was handed the ball in the 14thover and he bowled his first delivery at 130kph before climbing to 140kph by the end of the over. His quickest was 142kph in the match which he bowled to Ambati Rayudu in his fifth over. Talha impressed with his in-cutters and his attacking line to the batsmen. He bowled at the body, cramping the Indian batsmen for room for which in the end Rohit Shamra literally threw his wicket. He made the Indian batsmen jump on the crease as his rising deliveries were hard to control by Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane before he finally had them caught both trying to heave a rising ball and only ended up giving catches to Hafeez in the mid-wicket zone. He eventually bowled seven overs in the game and took 2 for 22. The 25-year-old grew-up in Faisalabad where he began playing tape ball cricket, encouraged by his elder brother. In 2003 he went for the Under-16s trial in the Faisalabad region and got selected from where he made it to the national team slowly. He was picked in the 15-man

Farhans side effects

Couple of glimpses of Bollywood star Farhan Akhetr on the big screen at Mipur had the packed stands informed of the mega stars presence in the stadium and during the interval the effect of his presence was visible with the shouts from the 20,000 plus when he walked onto the field shake hands with a portion of the gathering. Farhan was present in the game to promote his latest release, Shaadi Ke Side Effects. Farhan in his official Twitter account said, Off to Dhaka this morning... never been before... curious to experience the city. In the last edition of the tournament, also hosted by Bangladesh, another Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar was present at a game along with his co-actors from the movie Housefull 2. Minhaz Uddin Khan

Talha also carries a strong first-class background where he claimed 276 wickets in 70 matches
squad for the home Test series against Sri Lanka in 2009 and went on to make his Test debut in the second match. Talha also carries a strong first-class background where he claimed 276 wickets in 70 matches. However, it will be his ODi debut yesterday that he will remember in the days to come for two reasons it was a match against traditional rivals India, and secondly his name on the shirt spelled Talah instead of Talha! l

Mohammad Talha, the debutant Pakistan pacer had his name mistaken on his shirt during the Asia Cup match against India at SBNS yesterday MUMIT M

14
Pardew fined 100,000 by Newcastle
Newcastle fined manager Alan Pardew 100,000 (121,328 euros) and gave him a formal warning on Saturday for headbutting an opposition player in the Premier League game at Hull. The 52-year-old clashed with Hulls David Meyler during his sides 4 1 win and later apologised for the sensational incident. Alan has accepted a formal warning from the club in relation to his behaviour today and also a club fine of 100,000, said a club statement. Despite apologising, Pardew will still face a Football Association investigation. AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, March 3, 2014

Worku wins Lake Biwa marathon

Ethiopias Bazu Worku comfortably won Japans Lake Biwa marathon on Sunday, after a tough battle with defending champion Vincent Kipruto of Kenya who came in third. Worku finished in 2hr 09min 10sec, followed by Japans Satoru Sasaki who clocked 2:09:47, and Kipruto with 2:09:54. The (road and weather) condition was good. At 30 kilometres, I was confident. So I pushed, pushed and... go, said Worku. I am very happy, he said. The three men closely contested the lead in the final phase of the race. AFP

Vettel suffers test wipeout

Four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel admitted Red Bull were facing serious problems after he failed to complete a lap in testing on Saturday, just two weeks out from the start of the new season. Vettels car suffered electrical issues which meant he stopped on the installation lap at Sakhir and then spent the rest of the day frustratingly kicking his heels in the garage. The setback came just a day after teammate Daniel Ricciardo had completed 66 laps in the second Red Bull for the Australians most convincing outing this winter. AFP

Inter deliver blow to Roma title hopes

Misfiring Romas championship hopes suffered a blow after Inter Milan held the Serie A title challengers to a scoreless draw at a half-empty Olympic Stadium on Saturday. Inter travelled to the capital looking to bounce back from a 1-1 draw with struggling Cagliari at home last week which left them fifth and 11 points off the Champions League places. The statistics were firmly againt Walter Mazzarris side, who had won only one of their past 10 league games against Roma and taken home just a point from their past four visits to the Olympic Stadium. But despite Roma shading a largely insipid encounter, helped little by a partial stadium ban which led to both ends of the Olimpico being closed to home fans, Rudi Garcias men failed to snatch the win that would have put pressure on Juventus ahead of their trip to Milan on Sunday. Roma now trail Juventus by eight points but still have a game in hand. However after a game featuring punches from Daniele de Rossi and Juan Jesus that went unpunished by match officials, Garcia refused to criticise his players. I think its a fair result. Inter played well, especially in first 30 mins of the first half, the Frenchman told Sky Sport Italia. But when you cant win, the next most important thing is not to lose. Asked about the title race, Garcia added: Its too early to say. Nothings been decided yet. Inter did well to take a share of the spoils, although the Serie A draw kings, who top the league with 11 draws, will slip to sixth if Verona account for Bologna at home on Sunday. We had a great first half, Im happy with the lads performances. All that was missing was a goal, said Mazzarri. Roma, still missing captain Francesco Totti and defender Maicon, kept Samir Handanovic in the Inter net busy in an enterprising opening period. But the hosts, who started with influential forward Miralem Pjanic on the bench due to a recent knee knock, lacked their usual spark and only really threatened after the Bosnian replaced Adem Ljajic just before the hour. Mauro Icardi had calls for a penalty waved away after tangling with Mehdi Benatia as he volleyed wide and Inter threatened again but Rodrigo Palacio sent a looping header over from Ricky Alvarezs cross. l

Brazilian football legend Ronaldo (c) participates at the Gavioes da Fiel samba school during the second night of carnival parade at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Saturday AFP

Federer downs Berdych for sixth Dubai Open

Roger Federer followed his best win in 18 months by taking his first title in nine months with a revenge victory over Tomas Berdych in Saturdays final of the Dubai Open. Federer came from behind to beat world number two Novak Djokovic on Friday. Now he did the same against Berdych, the man who saved two match points against him in last years semi-finals, winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to claim a sixth title in the UAE. It was never a great final, for the error count was too high, but it became increasingly dramatic as the games best known player worked his way back into it against one of the sports most dangerous hitters. Federer was a set and a break down and appeared to be out of it but managed to find some good returns at last, just as the match was slipping away, and broke back at once. Then his standard went up. It extended Federers record of Dubai titles to six, and moved him above John McEnroes total of 77 titles into third place in the all-time title list. Only Ivan Lendl and Jimmy Connors remain above the Swiss. Most of all it helped the Grand Slam record-holder to maintain his belief that even at 32, he has another major in him. Its the mental belief that youre gonna win instead of losing -- I think thats what I got back right now, said Federer, after lifting his first trophy since Halle in June last year. While he had been brilliant in the second half of the match against Djokovic, Federer was more circumspect about the tennis which had got him over the line against Berdych. l

Rodgers again dismisses title talk as Liverpool go second

As far as everyone but Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is concerned, the Merseyside club are definite contenders to win the most open Premier League title race for years. Privately, perhaps, Rodgers may share that view although he was certainly giving nothing away publicly after his team chalked up a fourth straight league success with a 3-0 victory at Southampton on Saturday that put them second behind Chelsea. It was a typically battling and entertaining performance from Liverpool who survived some scares, especially in the first half, against a very effective and fired-up Saints side who could have scored three times before the break. Adam Lallana, one of nine players in the match included in Roy Hodgsons latest England squad, hit a post for the home side, Morgan Schneiderlin fired just over and Jay Rodriguez was denied by a great save from Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet. In the end though, as they have done so often this season, Liverpool won by a distance. OPPORTUNISTIC STRIKE Luis Suarez scored his first goal for six games with an opportunistic strike after 16 minutes, Raheem Sterling scored with his first touch in the 58th, soon after coming on as a substitute, and a thunderous stoppage-time penalty from Steven Gerrard wrapped up another emphatic Liverpool victory. As he has been doing all season, Rodgers would not be drawn on his teams chances of lifting the clubs first league title since 1990 even though they are only four points behind Chelsea and still have to play them at Anfield on April 27. Although there is still almost a quarter of the season to go and Manchester City (57 points) have two games in hand over the leading trio of Chelsea (63), Liverpool and Arsenal (both 59), that match could yet be the title decider. Chelsea were the last team to beat Liverpool in the league on Dec. 29 since when Rodgers side have won seven of their last nine league games and drawn the other two. l

Liverpool's Luiz Suarez celebrates scoring the opening goal against Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Saturday AFP

'Sturridge can be England centurion'

England manager Roy Hodgson has encouraged striker Daniel Sturridge to bring his superb Liverpool form to the international arena by predicting that he could go on to win 100 caps. Sturridge, 24, is enjoying the finest season of his career to date, having scored 18 goals in 20 games to help fire Liverpools Premier League title charge alongside strike partner Luis Suarez. He is expected to lead the line for England at this years World Cup in Brazil, but despite his thrilling displays at club level, injuries have prevented him from scaling the heights on the international scene. The former Manchester City and Chelsea forward has won only nine caps, scoring two goals, and has started just four matches since Hodgson succeeded Fabio Capello as manager in May 2012. Hes hardly played for England, Hodgson told journalists at Wembley Stadium this week. Weve been very unlucky with Daniel Sturridge. Since hes gone to Liverpool (in January 2013), hes done very, very well -- not quite as spectacularly well as hes doing at the moment, but even from the offset, hes been doing well. But quite often, when weve had matches, weve been unlucky hes not been available through injury. In my time, in my 25 games, Daniel hasnt featured anywhere near as often as I would like. Now Im hoping in the next 25, hes going to feature a lot. Because hes a great talent and if we can bottle his form, hes a goalscorer. The talents hes got, hes got -- hes not going to lose them overnight, thats for sure, so his fitness is going to be important. If he remains fit and able, and all the time he remains fit and able, Im confident hell produce. So when I say Im hoping hes going to bring it to England, its with a view to the future and he should be looking at his 50 caps. And when he has his 50, look at a hundred, because hes got the talent. I dont think anyone in this room would deny the talent there. l

Campbell claims FA racism blocked England captaincy

Former England defender Sol Campbell believes he would have been national team captain for more than 10 years if he was white, according to extracts from his new biography that is being serialised by The Sunday Times newspaper. Campbell, 39, who was born in east London to Jamaican parents, claimed the FA decided it could not have a black face leading the England side on a regular basis. Its crazy, he was quoted as saying in extracts from biography. I dont think it will change because they dont want it to, and probably the majority of fans dont want it either. Its alright to have black captains and mixed race in the Under-18s and Under-21s but not for the full national side. Former Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal defender Campbell, who has 73 caps, captained England under Glenn Hoddle against Belgium in 1998 aged 23 years and 248 days when he became their second youngest skipper after World Cup-winner Bobby Moore. He was given the armband again by Hoddle against the Czech Republic, also in 1998, and led his country out against the United States in 2005 when Sven-Goran Eriksson was manager. Campbell played at three World Cups, featuring in 10 games and scoring once, plus three European Championships before announcing his retirement in 2012, having been released by Newcastle United the previous year. l

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his trophy after defeating Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic after their final match in the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai on Saturday AFP

Bradley ruled out against Ukraine

Midfielder Michael Bradley will miss the United States friendly against Ukraine on Wednesday as he seeks treatment for a minor injury, USA Soccer said Saturday. Midfielder Mix Diskerud was also ruled out because of injury, while defender Tim Ream of English club Bolton was excused from the squad for personal reasons, and no replacements will be added. The match will be held in Larnaca, Cyprus. It was originally set to be played in Kharkiv but the location was changed because of the unrest in Ukraine. l

Bayern rout 10-man Schalke to go 20 points clear

An Arjen Robben hattrick helped Bayern Munich open up a 20-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 5-1 win over ten-man Schalke 04, who suffered a second drubbing in four days. Having lost 6-1 at home to Cristiano Ronaldos Real Madrid on Wednesday in the Champions League, Schalke were put to the sword again at Munichs Allianz Arena as Bayern went 4-0 up inside half-an-hour. Bayern extended their record unbeaten league run to 48 matches, dating back to October 2012, and earned their 15th straight league victory. My son will enjoy having the match ball, my kids are my biggest fans, said Dutch winger and father of three Robben. We play with so much aggression and tempo, we really put our foot down. The title is getting every closer, we played with so much passion, which we need for the big games, especially in the Champions League. With just three minutes gone, leftback David Alaba netted a free-kick, then Robben scored either side of Mario Mandzukics header from a superb Alaba cross to make it 4-0 at the break. Schalke were gifted a goal when Jefferson Farfans corner was turned into his own net by Munich right-back Rafinha, in for captain Philipp Lahm, with 25 minutes left. To compound Schalkes misery, Greece centre-back Kyriakos Papadopoulos was shown a straight red for bringing down Mandzukic in the area. His foul allowed Robben to wrap up his hat-trick with a 77th-minute penalty. You cant get much worse than that, fumed Schalke captain Benedikt Hoewedes, who had a miserable 26th birthday. That was highly embarassing and we need to apologise to our fans. We gave them way too much respect. Coach Pep Gurdiola flippantly told reporters dont ask me about the title in broken German on Friday, but with 11 league games left, Bayern can wrap up their 24th German league title by the end of March at the latest. l

Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring the third goal against Schalke 04 in Munich on Saturday AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, March 3, 2014

15

QUICK BYTES

Liza loses in Cannes

National Woman Champion WIM Shamima Akter Liza continued her frustrating run in the Open A Group of 28th Cans Winter Chess Festival as she lost to French IM Debray Christopher in the 8th round at Cannes in France Saturday. Liza now has earned three points after the end of eighth round. Debray has a rating of 2364. Tribune Desk

Bangladesh geared up to face tough challenge

Vincent Hemanta Biswas, set to make his debut for the Bangladesh national team vowed to provide the best against India in the Fifa friendly scheduled to kick off in Goa at 6:30pm BST on March 5. The 27 member Bangladesh squad flew to India yesterday and will go through the first practice session today. Vincent, who went to Netherlands to train with FC Twente was hopeful of putting a good show. There are six newcomers in the football team and all of them want to mark their presence with worthy performances, we want to play our best for the sake of the country, said Vincent. Meanwhile, Indian national team fully assembled at Goa on Sunday. Nine Players including captain Sunil Chhetri joined the team yesterday. Apart from Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC Teammate Robin Singh, East Bengals Mehtab Hossain, Arnab Mondal, Lalrindika Ralte; Mohun Bagans Aiborlang Khongjee; Pune FCs Gurjinder Kumar and Amrinder Singh and Mumbai FCs Sandesh Jhingan couldnt join the squad on Saturday due to commitments for their clubs. Subrata Paul, the goalkeeper presently playing for FC Vestsjaelland of Denmark also flew back to India

Sohag out with thumb injury

Sohag Gazi has been the latest inclusion in Bangladeshs injury list as the offspinner was ruled out of the Asia Cup after cutting his right thumb during their match against Afghanistan on Saturday. Sohag came on to bowl in the 11thover at Fatullah and cut his thumb when he tried to field off his fourth ball. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital where the doctors put four stitches on the wound. The cut was caused by the seam and it had to be stitched up. He will need seven to ten days to recover, said national team physio Vibhav Singh. Earlier, it was Tamim Iqbal who was rested for the five-nation tournament with a neck strain while the injury prone Mashrafe bin Mortaza picked up a side strain in the opening match against India and was rested in the previous match.Mahmudullah, who lost his place after a poor series against Sri Lanka at home, was named as Sohags replacement for the remainder of the Asia Cup. Tribune Desk

Bangladesh national football team pose for photograph before their departure to India yesterday on Saturday. Another Indian goalkeeper Karanjeet Singh told the website of All India Football Federation he expects a tough match. It will be a tough match against Bangladesh. The last time we played against each other in the SAFF Championship the match ended 1-1. We are all looking forward to the match. Playing an International Match is so different. The intensity in International Football is so much higher and it makes you more complete as a footballer, he stated. rata Paul (FC Vestsjaelland). Defenders: Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal), Aibhorlang Khongjee (Mohun Bagan), Sandesh Jhingan (Mumbai FC), Gurjinder Kumar (Pune FC), Narayan Das (Dempo SC). Midfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lalrindika Ralte (both East Bengal),

COURTESY

The 20-member Indian squad:

Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Amrinder Singh (Pune FC), Sub-

Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George, Clifford Miranda (both Dempo SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa). Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (both Bengaluru FC), Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers). l

Berdych to miss Davis Cup tie in Japan

Defending champions the Czech Republic will be without their numberone player Tomas Berdych, the world number six, for the Davis Cup quarterfinal tie in Japan on April 4 6, the Czech team said Sunday. I understand and respect Tomass decision to skip the tie, Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said on the Czech Davis Cup teams Facebook page. The 28-year-old Berdych and veteran Radek Stepanek led the Czechs to two straight Davis Cup titles in 2012 and 2013, and to a first-round victory over the Netherlands in February this year. Czech media quoted Berdych as saying after the Dubai Open final on Saturday that he would skip the whole Davis Cup season, but the Czech team insisted the decision only concerned the Japan tie. AFP

Toure, Nasri blasts bring City League Cup joy

Sensational quick- ire goals by Yaya Toure and Samir Nasri inspired Manchester City to come from behind and beat Sunderland 3-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday. Sunderland had taken a 10th-minute lead through on-loan Liverpool striker Fabio Borini and a fine first-half display left them on course for a first piece of major silverware since 1973. However, City responded in the second half, with Toure lobbing in a superb long-range equaliser and Nasri smashing home less than two minutes later before substitute Jesus Navas added a third goal at the death. Victory for City enabled them to partially atone for the shock of last seasons loss to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup final and keeps Manuel Pellegrinis side on course for a domestic treble. It was ultimately a bittersweet first trip to the new Wembley for Sunderland, but they could reflect with pride on a valiant display that augurs well for their Premier League relegation battle and forthcoming FA Cup quarter-final against Hull City. City welcomed back top scorer Sergio Aguero after a month out with a hamstring injury and he served an early reminder of his threat with a snapshot that was parried by Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone. Gus Poyets Sunderland had started the game with intent, however, snapping into tackles in the middle of the pitch, and a minute later they rocked City by taking the lead. Lee Cattermole, starting in place of the cup-tied Liam Bridcutt, robbed Toure just outside the Sunderland area and fed Adam Johnson, who lofted a ball down the right flank for Borini to chase. Vincent Kompany got to the ball first, but the City captains attempted clearance was blocked by Borini, who cut into the box from the right and deftly found the bottom-left corner with the outside of his right foot. Sunderland were quick to gather men behind the ball, but they continued to threaten, with Wes Brown headMan City

Beradanga Chhotapir School lift title

Beradanga Chhotapir Government Primary School of Nilphamari emerged as the champions of the Bangabandhu Gold Cup Primary School Tournament2013 after beating Uttar Karapur Government Primary School of Barisal 4-2 in the penalty shootout in the final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Player of tournament Ashiq put Beradanga ahead in the 15th minute before Sumon cancelled out the lead ten minutes later as regulation time ended 1-1. Meanwhile in the 4th Bangamata Begum Fazilatunnesa Mujib Gold Cup Primary School Football Tournament, Kalasindur Government Primary School clinched the title crushing Moghachhari Government Primary School 4-1 in the final. Fatema, Modina, Sanjida and Taslima netted one apiece for the champions while Sui-Nui Marma scored the consolation for the losing side. Tohura Begum of Kalasindur School was adjudged the best player of the meet. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina distributed the prizes among the winners. Primary and Mass Education Minister Mostafizur Rahman were also present. l

RESULTS

Y Toure 55, Nasri 56, Navas 90

3 1

Sunderland
Borini 10

CCTV footage shows loving Pistorius, girlfriend

South African athlete Oscar Pistorius is seen kissing and flirting with his model girlfriend just days before he shot her dead, in security footage broadcast on Saturday ahead of his murder trial. Pistorius and his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp behaved like any loving couple as they picked out groceries at the upmarket Woolworths store in Pretoria ten days before her Valentines Day death, according to CCTV images broadcast by Sky News. The pair were browsing the food section just before 10:30 pm on February 4 last year. They chatted and laughed, relaxed and at ease with each other. At one point the athlete leaned over and kissed Steenkamp. Prosecutors have charged the 27-year-old Paralympian with the planned killing of his lover. The state is expected to show the couple had relationship problems, and call as witnesses neighbours who heard fighting and screaming the night of the shooting. Pistorius has insisted they were in love, and that he shot his 29-year-old girlfriend through a locked toilet door at his home believing she was an intruder. British tabloid The Sun also reported this week the sportsman was dating 19-year-old Johannesburg paramedic student Leah Skye Malan. Newly released footage also showed Pistorius firing his gun at a shooting range months before he shot Steenkamp. AFP

ing over from a corner and Johnson sparking panic in the City defence with a low cross. When City did muster an attack, Nasri saw a tame shot saved by Mannone, and it took a magnificent lastditch block by Kompany to prevent Borini from extending Sunderlands lead before half-time. It was to prove a spurned opportunity that Sunderland would rue, as

within 11 minutes of kick-off after the interval, City were in front. The teams exchanged chances early in the second half, David Silva testing Mannone and Costel Pantilimon pushing a long-range Ki Sung-yueng effort over at the other end, before Toure equalised with an exquisite strike. With Sunderland camped inside their area, Pablo Zabaleta rolled the ball back to Toure and the giant Ivorian lifted a gloriously nonchalant effort over Mannone and into the top-left corner from 30 yards. Sunderland barely had time to draw breath before Nasri made it 2-0, meeting Aleksandar Kolarovs deflected leftwing cross with an emphatic shot from the edge of the box that swerved deliciously inside the left-hand post. Immediately, City introduced Navas in place of Aguero, while a shellshocked Sunderland sent on Craig Gardner and Steven Fletcher, who quickly tested Pantilimon with a low shot. l

Clarke passes 150

SCORECARD
Michael Clarke remained unbeaten on 161, one of the more heroic of his 27 test hundreds, as Australia reached 494 for seven before rain brought an early end to the second day of the seriesdeciding third test against South Africa on Sunday. Clarke reached 150 for the 10th time in his test career and in doing so moved past three Englishman on the all-time run scorers list - Geoffrey Boycott, Kevin Pietersen and David Gower. His innings was interrupted just past the midway point of the afternoon session by a downpour, together with high winds, which forced the players from the field at Newlands. They failed to return and play was called off an hour before the scheduled close, though weather is set fair for the remaining three days. Should Australia not declare overnight, Clarke will resume on Monday

Australia first Innings M Clarke not out S Smith b Elgar S Watson c Amla b Duminy B Haddin c Amla b Duminy M Johnson c De Villiers b Duminy R Harris not out Extras (nb6, w6) Total (7 wkts, 127.4 overs)

161 84 40 13 0 4 12 494

Fall of wickets 1 65, 2 138, 3 217, 4 401, 5 456, 6 489, 7 489 Bowling Steyn 10.1 0 44 1, Philander 26.4 2 1161, Morkel 23.5 2 94 0, Duminy 17 0 734, Abbott 28 11 68 0, Elgar 22 0 99 1
with Ryan Harris (four). The Australian captain took a battering on day one from pace bowler Morne Morkel, who struck him a number of times, including a sickening blow to the back of the head. l

Manchester City players pose together with the League Cup after winning the final match against Sunderland at Wembley Stadium in London yesterday. Manchester City won 3 1. AFP

DAYS WATCH
Sony Six 6:00AM NBA 2013 14 San Antonio V Dallas 5:30PM World Tennis Day 2014 Hong Kong Channel 9 & Star Sports 1 2:00PM Arise Asia Cup Afghanistan v Sri Lanka Ten Cricket 2:30PM South Africa v Australia 3rd Test, Day 3

Dhaka Division retain huge lead

Dhaka Division moved 19 points clear of Rajshahi at the top of the Walton National Cricket League points table after beating Dhaka Metro by 46 runs in a 5th round thriller at the Shaheed Chandu Stadium in Bogra yesterday. In the days other matches, hosts Rajshahi lost points after being held to a draw with Khulna while Abdullah Al Mamuns century earned Chittagong a draw against Rangpur at home. Resuming the day at 10/0, Dhaka division, riding on wicketkeeper batsman Nurul Hasans unbeaten 74, were bowled out for 192, setting an easy 190-run target for Metro who scored 401 in the 1st innings. The target, however, seemed too much for Metro as the opponents controlled bowling restricted them to only 143/10 in 36.5 overs. Shahadat Hossain picked up three for the divisions. The draw was inevitable at the Shahid Kamruzzaman Stadium in Rajshahi. After the home side completed their first innings on the last day of the game on 327/10 thanks to number nine Muktar Alis 96 and number eleven batsman Delwar Hossains dazzling unbeaten knock of 82. After the hosts fell on 162/9, the duo made a record 165run partnership for the 10th wicket. Khulna ended the day scoring 113 runs for three in their second innings. Meanwhile at the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium in Coxs Bazaar, Tarik Ahmed scored an unbeaten 100 before Rangpur declared their innings on 234/3 giving Chittagong a sturdy 304-run target to chase. Saymon Ahamed added 84 for the visitors. In reply, Chittagong began their innings poorly losing four wickets for 79 runs but Abdullah Al Mamun and Jasim Uddin rescued the hosts, building a partnership of 91 runs by stumps to leave the side at 188/5. Mamun scored 102 off 131 deliveries, featuring ten 4s and six 6s while Jasim Uddin added 40. After the end of 5th round, Dhaka remained at the top of the table with a total 84 points while Rajshahi and Sylhet have 65 and 62 points respectively. l

Lion Sixers who beat Silent Assassin to win VPL II organised by Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD) the volunteer wing of JAAGO Foundation celebrate their triumph yesterday COURTESY

16
n Abu Bakar Siddique
The worlds largest mangrove forest Sundarbans considered to be the hub of biodiversity is gradually losing its biodiversity due to rampant poaching of wild animals in and around the forest. Very recently a tigress fell victim to such poaching. On February 08 this year some tourists spotted a wounded tigress with a nylon rope tied to one of its legs at the Chadpai range in the Sundarbans. They brought the matter to the notice of the forest department that later rescued the tigress and sent her to Gazipur Safari Park for treatment. However, after a week the tigress died as the vet failed to ensure her survival as its injury was critical. The forest department blamed the

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Monday, March 3, 2014

Poaching kills biodiversity in Sundarbans

poachers for the murder of the tigress. In 2012 a tiger was rescued by the forest department from Satkhira range. The tiger entered a village presumably after it escaped the poachers. It was missing a leg. The forest department sent it to the Gazipur Safari Park. Like those unfortunate tigress and tiger, several wild animals including Royal Bengal Tiger and its major prey spotted deer have been on the verge of distinction due to poaching over the years to meet the rising demand for wildlife products like meat, bone and horn in the eastern countries, experts working on wildlife said. Dhaka University professor Dr Anwarul Islam who works on wildlife mentioned the incident of three cubs rescued by the Rapid Action Battalion in 2012 from the capital which were later handed over to the authorities of the Dulahazra Safari Park located in Coxs Bazar. Forest Department officials told the Dhaka Tribune that around 10 tigers are poached in a year. They also attributed the reasons to weak surveillance and monitoring. With an aim to enhance the wildlife conservation, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed a protocol on September 6, 2011 during the Indian premiers official visit to Bangladesh. The protocol says both the countries will undertake initiatives to strengthen cooperation between them on the conservation of Bengal Tigers in different ways, including sharing their experience and knowledge on illegal tiger trafficking and reducing conflicts on border issues. To implement the agreement a committee comprised of stakeholders from both countries was formed the same year the pact was inked. However, not a single meeting of the committee has been held so far, a member of the committee who works on tiger conservation said on condition of anonymity. Yunus Ali, chief conservator of the forest acknowledged the fact saying that there were some correspondence over the issue and they could start joint patrol in the Sundarbans soon to check the wildlife trafficking. In addition, the government undertook a $36m worth five-year project named Strengthening Regional Co-operation for Wildlife Protection on July 1, 2011, though a very few components of the development programme have been completed. Of the initiatives under the project, establishing a Wild Life Crime Control Unit is a major initiative and work on this is in progress to some extent, said Monirul H Khan, a professor of Jahangirnagar University who works on wildlife. Monirul also said that a joint census of tiger population is being held under the project which is the only visible activity of the project. According to the forest department, the country has 440 Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans as per the tiger census held in 2008. However, a study carried out by the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh in 2012 said the number of tigers in the Sundarbans had come down by 69% since 2008 due to illegal poaching and trafficking. l

EC rejects Kader Siddiquis appeal n Mohammad Zakaria

The Election Commission has rejected an appeal of Tangail 8 by-election contender Abdul Kader Siddiqui and upheld the order of the returning officer. The commission has decided to uphold the order of Tangails returning officer, cancelling three appeals including Kader Siddiquis, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad told reporters yesterday. The EC has also rejected the appeal of the Jatiya Party-backed candidate Kazi Ashraf Siddique on the same grounds and Jatiya Party (Manju)-backed candidate Sadek Siddique for not having his signature on the affidavit. On February 26, Kader Siddiqui was declared ineligible to contest the Tangail 8 by-election for loan default. l

Independence Day world record likely n Tribune report

SINGING NATIONAL ANTHEM

Action if national anthem, flag ignored at madrasas

n Emran Hossain Shaikh
The government will take action against madrasas if they do not perform the national anthem and hoist the national flag. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday told parliament that the allegation that madrasas were not showing respect to the two symbols of nationality was partly true. If proved, necessary action will be taken against such madrasas, he said in response to a question raised by Awami League MP Kamal Ahmed Majumdar. Kamal also alleged that many madrasas usually taught their students to stand against the Awami League and the spirit of the Liberation War. The Awami League is a party established by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and led the Liberation War of the county. If any madrasa teaches something against the Awami League, action will be taken, if proved, Nahid said. Refuting allegations of question paper leak in public examinations, the minister claimed that a vested interest group was trying to spread rumour. No specific allegation of leak was found regarding SSC and HSC examinations. We will take action based on specific allegations, Nahid said answering Awami League MP Habibur Rahman Mollah. In response to another question from AKM Jahangir Hossain, the minister said there were 1,519 Ebtedayee madrasas which get allowance from the government. l

Bangladesh is eyeing creation of a world record on singing the national anthem on March 26, the Independence Day. At least 300,000 people would converge on the National Parade Ground on the day to sing the national anthem in a bid to set a new Guinness World Record, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor said at a press conference yesterday. He was speaking after unveiling the logo of the programme. Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu was present at the press briefing. Both ministers expressed hope that everyone at educational institutions, upazila and district headquarters would join the chorus simultaneously. The attempt is a bid to focus increasing patriotism among citizens. l

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor unveils the logo of the Lakhho Kanthe Shonar Bangla at a press conference in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM

9 people, one organisation get Independence Day Award 2014

n Tribune Report
A rice research institute and nine personalities have been selected for this years Independence Day Award. The government yesterday announced the names of the recipients, who include seven freedom fighters, an artist and an educator, said an order issued by the cabinet division. The awardees who were recognized posthumously for their contributions to the countrys Liberation War and independence include former parliamentarian Mohammad Abul Khayer, martyred police officer Munsi Kabir Uddin Ahmed, former additional deputy commissioner of Barisal Kazi Azizul Islam, former sub-divisional officer of Kishoreganj Khasruzzaman Chowdhury, SBM Mizanur Rahman and Dr Haris Ali. Lt Col (rtd) Abu Usman Chowdhury, the commander of Sector 8 during the 1971 war, also receives the award in the same category. Principal M Kamruzzaman got the award posthumously for his contributions to education, while eminent artist Qayyum Chowdhury was awarded for his mark in the cultural arena. The Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, meanwhile, was chosen for the award for contributions to agriculture research. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to distribute the awards at a ceremony on March 25. Each recipient will get Tk1 lakh, a gold medal and a certificate from the government. The Independence Day Award, Bangladeshs highest state award, was introduced by the government in 1977. The award recognises outstanding contributions to the Liberation War, the 1952 Language Movement and sectors such as education, literature, science and technology, medical sciences, journalism, public service, social science, cultural activities, sports, fine arts and rural development. A cabinet division source said the names of 28 people and 16 organisations were nominated for this years awards. The cabinet committee on national awards, headed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, finalised the names of the 10 awardees and the prime minister approved the final list. l

JU gets countrys first female VC

n JU Correspondent
The government yesterday appointed Farzana Islam as the vice chancellor of Jahangirnagar University, making the anthropology professor the first woman to run a public university in the country. President Abdul Hamid, the chancellor of the university, appointed Farzana Islam, who topped the VC panel election on February 20, as the new vice chancellor. Another elected panel member, Abul Hossain, dean of mathematics and physical sciences faculty, was appointed as a pro-VC, sources said. The education ministry confirmed the new appointments of VC and pro-VC through a resolution on Sunday noon. Prof Farzana Islam and Prof Abul Hossain have already taken charge, JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. After taking charge as the universitys chief executive, the new VC thanked the government for having faith in her and vowed to do her duty properly. She also urged all JU teachers, students, officials and staff to work together to take the university forward. Meanwhile, the government also relieved MA Matin and Afsar Ahmed from their posts as pro-VCs. l

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Continue to the Business section...

Business

B3 UAE-led group to buy

two India power plants in deal worth $1.6bn

B4 Abenomics struggles

to deliver Japan public works boom

MONDAY, MARCH 3, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

BB and BSEC lock Chinese company presents its project on Bangabandhu satellite in heated debate proposal n
The central banks decisions on stock market related issues irks stock market regulator
n Jebun Nesa Alo
The Bangladesh Banks policy decision related to capital market has sparked a heated debate among the stakeholders of the stock market at a coordination meeting at the central bank headquarters in Dhaka yesterday. The debate started over the central banks latest instruction to the banks to limit exposure of their subsidiaries in the capital market, said an official who attended the meeting with Governor Atiur Rahman in the chair.

Asif Showkat Kallol

'In the context of BSEC demand, we took the decision to review the time frame of submitting investment portfolio by banks'
He said mainly the officials of Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) locked in the altercation in the closeddoor meeting also attended by representatives from Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) and Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA). According to a Bangladesh Bank circular issued on February 25, the total investment of a bank and its subsidiaries has been restricted to 50% of a sum of consolidated paid up capital, balance in share premium account, statutory reserve and retained earnings. Earlier, there was no limit for the subsidiary companies of the banks. The coordination meeting was told that the restriction has created panic among the retail investors in the stock market as they feared the central bank decision would cause a free fall of stock prices. The market witnessed a fall of about 60 points in three consecutive sessions after issuing the circular as investors became skeptical about the possible impact of the order, an executive of a brokerage house said. Besides, last month banks have been asked to submit their capital market investment portfolio everyday to Bangladesh Bank instead of every month.

Bangladesh Bank took the decisions without discussing with the stock market regulator BSEC, an official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. In accordance with a finance ministry circular issued on February 19, 2012, the central bank needs to hold discussion with the BSEC before issuing any instruction related to capital market. At yesterdays coordination meeting, the BSEC chairman and commissioners raised the issue as to why the central bank had not informed them about the investment limit for banks, which is related to capital market. At one stage, Bangladesh Bank, however, decided to review the decision of submitting investment portfolio everyday. In the context of BSEC demand, we took the decision to review the time frame of submitting investment portfolio by banks, Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury told reporters after the meeting. We also agreed with BSEC that the capital market related decisions will be taken through co-ordination. BSEC Commissioner Amzad Hossain said the central bank assured them of coordination while taking decision on the stock market issues. Earlier, the lack of co-ordination between the two authorities was marked in the share market inquiry report in 2011 as major cause for share market disaster in late 2010. There was astronomical rise in the share market in 2009-2010 period due to over investment by banks. Maximum bank had invested above 10% of their liabilities. Bangladesh Bank asked the banks to cut down their investment from capital market and tighten their supervision. The central bank took the decision without discussing with the capital market regulator. As a result, the market fell into debacle. Under the circumstances, the finance ministry issued the circular ordering that discussion or suggestion needs to be held with BSEC in the sphere of taking any capital market related decision or commentary. The two regulators had agreed upon holding at least one monthly meeting, which was not held regularly. l

The Ministry of Finance has started scrutinising the six financial offers received from the multinational banks and firms, willing to finance the launching of the countrys first-ever satellite called Bangabandhu-1. Being the first company, top officials of China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) have recently held a power point presentation at the finance division auditorium. Finance minister AMA Muhith himself witnessed the presentation, which was held on Wednesday last. Now its up to the finance ministry to decide as to whether it will go for floating any fresh tender or choosing any of the firms so far expressed interest in launching the proposed satellite. The presentation was attended, among others, by the vice-president and general manager of the technology application division of the CGWIC Huang Yagang, its chief engineer and general manager of space systems division Hu Gang and vice-president and general manager of the launch services division Fu Zhiheng. According to the CGWIC proposal, the proposed satellite will be launched in the orbit within 30 months with a total weight of 5.1 ton and the expected life time of the satellite will be 15 years. By this time, orbit slot will be allocated by the International Telecommu-

nication Union (ITU) as per the Chinese companys presentation. Bangladesh government will have to give the sovereign guarantee with 85-95% support from the Chinese Exim Bank, according to the proposal. Bangladesh government will be the borrower with an interest rate of 2%. One-time management charge is 3% fixed by the CGWIC while the commitment charge will be 15%, says the power point presentation. A total of six multinational banks and firms have expressed interest in financing the launching of Bangladeshs first satellite Bangabandhu-1. According to the posts and telecommunications ministry officials, the

Finance Division and the Economic Relation Division (ERD) authorities are now scrutinising the financial offers of the Export-Import Bank of USA, HSBC France, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, CWG Gulf International of the UK, and China Great Wall Industry Corporation. The Finance Division and the ERD had also sought a business plan and cash-flow chart for the Bangabandhu-1 Satellite Launch Project from the ministry concerned, they said. The government has already spent Tk86 crore for paying the foreign consultants fees for the specialised project even before starting the main project work.

Posts and Telecommunication Secretary Abu Bakar Siddique had earlier said: The finance division and the ERD now have all the relevant documents on business plan and cash flow chart to make the final decision about the matter. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) had sent a project proposal to the telecommunication ministry in January, 2014. According to the project proposal, the total cost of the project will be Tk3,200 crore, out of which, the BTRC will finance Tk1,555 crore while the rest of the funds will come from foreign sources. Established in 1980, China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC) is the sole commercial organisation authorised by the Chinese government to provide satellites, commercial launch services and to carry out international space cooperation. As a professional company promoting international cooperation for Chinas space industry, CGWIC is devoted to the internationalised development of Chinas space industry. CGWIC has developed into a system integrator for space products and services. It can meet customers multi-directional needs by providing comprehensive solutions for commercial launch services, satellite export, satellite ground tracking and control station construction, satellite applications, project financing, project insurance and technical training, etc. l

eCommerce fairs in divisional cities planned n Tribune Report

The government has decided to organise e-commerce fairs in four divisional cities in April to promote online services, including online buy and sale of goods, across the country. The first three-day one is likely to be held in the first week of April in Rajshahi, followed by Barisal, Khulna and Rangpur respectively in the following three weeks. A meeting of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division took the decision yesterday, with Additional Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed in the chair. The fair would display the e-services developed by public and private organisations in last five years and present e-commerce activities,
B3 COLUMN 5

Maricos interim dividend exceeds its profits

n Tahmidur Rahman
Marico Bangladesh Limited yesterday declared an interim cash dividend of 500% on its Tk10 face value each share for the year to be ending on March 31 this year. Following the dividend based on nine months financials for the period ended on December 31 last year, price of the scrip inflated by 17.62% at Dhaka Stock Exchange. Record date for entitlement of interim dividend is 12th this month. Giving out excess cash is good for shareholders if companies do not have expansion opportunities, said Asif Khan, deputy head of research at BRAC EPL Stock Brokerage Ltd. He explained a company could give out higher dividend than profit as long as they have sufficient retained earnings. Companies dont want to increase their dividends significantly because the sustainability of the dividend payout can be a major concern to the investors, said Khairul Bashar, an analyst at the Asian Tiger Capital Partners He said the companys sudden spike in dividend pay-out might suggest that investors need to be watchful over its business and sustainability of the dividends in the long run. Also the higher dividend yields will attract the investors who prefer regular income, added Khairul Bashar. On January 22, the pharmaceuticals disclosed its nine-month profitability that surged surprisingly by 67% from Tk109.9 crore this financial year against Tk65.8 crore in the preceding year. Similarly, the company reported in its unaudited third quarterly profit of Tk34.7 crore after tax against a profit of Tk28.4 crore during the same period a year earlier. Despite near to zero growth in the sales, the company reported extraordinary profit growth due to a significant fall in the cost of sale. The cost of sale dropped nearly 22% to Tk259 crore during the first nine months of the year from Tk320 crore a year earlier. According to the latest unaudited report of the company at the end of 2013, the company has a retained earning of Tk242.8 crore while its cash and cash equivalents sum up to Tk21 crore. The company has 3.15 crore shares, meaning the interim dividend to be distributed will be Tk157.5 crore. l

In search of transformation n Tribune Business Desk

LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2014

NBR to develop strategic plan to fulfill revenue target

n Tribune Report
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) is going to develop an immediate strategic plan soon to further enhance its capacity for meeting the revenue target set for the fiscal year 2013-14. Meanwhile, the NBR has asked all its field offices to take strict necessary steps against the revenue defaulters by collecting the dues after bringing them into the tax-net. The NBR has also stressed the need for proper supervision and monitoring to achieve the revenue target. Attending a meeting held yesterday at his office, the NBR chairman Golam Hossain has asked all the field-level officers to explain the reason behind the revenue shortfall, which occurred in between July, 2013 and February, 2014. He has instructed the officials concerned to prepare a strategy plan on the basis of their field-level experiences, so they can achieve the revenue target within the remaining four months of the current fiscal. We can achieve our target through initiating strict action against tax evaders, focusing on the collection of due taxes, resolving tax-related disputes and selling out all the pending imported products at ports , said an NBR official quoting NBR chairman. The meeting was attended, among others, by tax commissioners from Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT) and Customs Wings with Golam Rahman in the chair. In responding to a query made by NBR chairman, the field officials informed the meeting that the volatile political situation had largely hampered the revenue collection. They also pointed out that the revenue target set for the FY13-14 was highly ambitious and unachievable. From July to January, 2014, the NBR has witnessed around Tk10,000 crore shortfall as it has managed only Tk59,477crore against the target of Tk69, 000 crore. The revenue collection target could be lowered at the revised budget as indicated by the finance minister, but since NBR has not yet got any instruction, the taxmen have to work with the existing target, NBR chairman told the meeting. The NBR set a target to collect Tk1,36,090 crore in revenue for the current fiscal year with highest Tk48,300 crore in income tax, Tk51,000 crore in VAT, Tk35,790 crore in customs duties and Tk1,000 crore in other taxes. l

MARICO'S YEARLY FIGURES ENDING IN MARCH (IN CRORE TAKA)

Pro t after tax 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Retained earnings

2011

2012

2013

Amid much apprehension and anticipation over the next phase of growth, Bangladesh Brand Forum (BBF) is all set to organise the third instalment of the Leadership Summit 2014. This year, with the theme In Search of Transformation, the summit aims to inspire leadership among the corporates in Bangladesh to make a quantum leap towards a new era of progress and development. The day-long summit will take place on March 22 at Radisson Blu Water Garden, Dhaka. One of the objectives of this years summit is highlighting the need and urgency for step change in business organisations, along with giving insights on the cutting-edge thinking on leadership, organisers said. Other objectives include: identifying areas that require immediate attention in ones organisation, getting agreement from leaders on a transformation process, and identifying areas where further support is required to excel the growth of the organisation. With all these objectives, BBF aims to inspire leaders to lead their teams towards making the step changes, identifying major issues/ barriers for the leaders and create specific action plans/ follow-ups to pursue the company goals. The summit will be divided into two parts, each part having three sessions. The first part, Commercial Business Inspiration, will cover business that has achieved success by making significant difference in peoples lives. The sessions will be led by successful leaders who will discuss how a business can perform effectively by doing good, how technology has an impact on lifestyle, and how it can be used to make a difference, and what traits should every leader possess who are looking for transformation. BBF started this initiative in 2008, with the theme Transforming Corporate: Transforming Bangladesh. The second version took place in 2010, with the theme Transforming Corporate. l

ILO provides fire safety assessment equipment to BUET

n Tribune Report
If the BUET was well-equipped, the government would not allow foreign engineers to inspect fire and building safety in the garment factories, said a top official. The government wants to appoint experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) to asses all kinds of factory inspections, said Labour Secretary Mikail Shipar. He was addressing a function in Dhaka yesterday, organised by International Labour Organisation (ILO) to hand over RMG factory building safety assessment equipment to BUET. The equipment worth Tk1.5 crore, funded by the Netherlands, Canada and the United Kingdom. More equipment of Tk4 crore will be provided in the second phase. Mikal Shipar said the labour ministry had proposed to enhance its manpower so that it could make adequate contribution to ensure workers rights in the factories. We have to have the well-equipped labour ministry, labour department and factory inspection department to save workers from workplace accidents, said the secretary. ILOs Srinivas Reddy said assessing the structural integrity of factories was one of the key priorities identified by the stakeholders following the Rana Plaza collapse. The equipment was purchased by the ILO as part of its support to the Bangladesh government employees and workers organisations to help improve working conditions in the readymade garment sector. The factory owners have committed to make change to issues identified through assessment to improve working conditions, enhance safety and reduce injuries, Srinivas Reddy said. BUET vice chancellor SM Nazrul Islam said the countrys industrial sector, especially the RMG, was growing very fast, so we have to be more careful and sensitive to the safety of the workers. He said the equipment provided would play a vital role in assessing structural integrity of factory buildings. The equipment will make us able to identify the risks and causes before happening any accidents. We are taking the lead in the RMG industry. There should be a sound environment and products should also maintain quality, said Nazrul Islam. BGMEA president Atiqul Islam put stress on mind-set change of both workers and owners and working together in making the sector compliant. Bangladesh Trade Union Centre general secretary Wazed-ul Islam Khan said the culture of constructing high rise building is risky and unsafe for the workers. According to him, the factory buildings shouldnt be more than two-story. He added: Assessment of factories is not the solution to safety issues. More important is to shift the RMG factories from the residential areas and the most important thing is to start paying compensation (to victim workers) as soon as possible. l

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock
DSE GAINERS Company

Monday, March 3, 2014

Banks drag stocks down

n Tribune Report
Stocks fell yesterday, pulled down by market bellwether banks that shed more than 3% as dividend declarations failed to attract investors. The market opened positive in the morning but selling pressure on banking stocks has sent the market to the negative territory. The benchmark DSEX was down 52 points or 1% to 4,749, extending losing streak for the third consecutive session. Shariah DSES index saw fractional loss of 0.2 point to 1,002. The blue-chip comprising DS30 ended at 1,702 with a marginal gain of 9 points or 0.6%. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, declined 95 points to close at 9,191. Banks lost the most going down by 3.2% with dividend declarations of banks pouring in the market. It was followed by cement that was down 1.4%, non-banking financial institution 1.2% and engineering 0.6%. Fuel and power, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals were the positive performers. Marico Bangladesh gained an impressive over 17% following its third interim dividend declaration of 500% for the year ended March 2014. Much of the interest was in the blue chip stocks which somehow helped the blue chip index to hold firmly to its roots. Participation in trading declined with the DSE turnover standing at Tk574 crore, a decrease of 11% over the previous session. A stabbing tumble in large cap stocks closed the index surprisingly down, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis. It said the assessment of the recent bite can be the outbreak of arrogant consolidation in market. Though annual declaration of bank came out with better than expected earnings, investors eyes have deviated to the technical strength of the stocks which provided an emotional reset in market to take some of the starch out of the bulls, it said. Scrip-wise swings prompted market volatility, with 85 scrips showing more than 3% movements. Zenith Investment said the Dhaka bourse continues to show cautious tone, as stocks get eroded from the massive selling pressure of traders. In this downtrend, brewing tension among investors is visible, while they wait for signs of recovery and the perfect time to penetrate. Grameenphone was the most traded stocks worth Tk32 crore changing hands, followed by Olympic Industries, Meghna Petroleum, Padma Oil, Square Pharmaceuticals, Heidelberg Cement and Bangladesh Submarine Cable and Company Ltd. l

DSE key features March 2, 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$)
5,744.00 88,875,832 121,248 291 77 213 1 2,320.43 28.13

Closing (% change) 17.46 9.06 8.67 7.84 6.50 6.50 6.45 6.29 5.63 5.47

Marico BD Ltd-A Al-Haj Textile -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Libra Infusions-A Eastern Lubricants -A Berger Paints-A AMCL (Pran) -A Monno Stafllers -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Renwick Jajneswar-A CSE GAINERS Company Marico BD Ltd-A AMCL (Pran) -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Bangladesh Lamps -A Imam Button -Z BATBCL -A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Padma Oil Co. -A Berger Paints-A Bay Leasing.-A

Average (% change) 20.27 6.48 7.51 7.82 10.29 6.17 5.56 6.52 4.00 5.93 Average (% change) 21.22 5.05 7.56 7.18 5.68 5.00 5.21 3.33 3.69 5.58

Closing average 1,139.54 137.96 63.28 515.90 471.59 1,003.81 247.81 358.87 147.56 217.57

Closing 1,141.50 142.10 63.90 515.90 463.90 1,014.40 250.70 360.20 150.00 220.00

Daily high 1,200.00 143.30 64.40 515.90 473.10 1,014.90 252.00 367.80 151.90 226.00

Daily low 1,020.00 120.00 60.00 515.00 451.00 979.90 215.00 340.00 141.50 209.00

Turnover in million 37.206 30.819 58.567 5.159 5.046 45.623 46.407 2.548 13.406 13.424

Latest EPS 46.53 2.06 8.29 3.04 6.02 41.85 6.06 5.25 -0.77 5.32

Latest PE 24.5 67.0 7.6 169.7 78.3 24.0 40.9 68.4 -ve 40.9

Closing (% change) 20.82 7.35 7.18 6.11 5.68 4.99 4.94 3.94 3.70 3.66

Closing average 1159.65 247.31 64.16 150.91 9.30 2264.00 902.22 338.53 986.75 40.09

Closing 1159.60 252.70 64.20 149.40 9.30 2264.00 900.00 340.20 986.80 39.70

Daily high 1280.00 254.00 65.80 154.70 9.30 2264.00 910.00 344.00 981.00 40.50

Daily low 1056.00 240.00 61.50 143.00 9.30 2264.00 900.00 327.10 1000.00 39.30

Turnover in million 0.870 5.911 3.978 1.034 0.005 0.113 0.812 21.917 0.395 1.885

Latest EPS 46.53 6.06 8.29 -0.77 -2.58 81.14 52.75 20.68 41.85 1.56

Latest PE 24.9 40.8 7.7 -ve -ve 27.9 17.1 16.4 23.6 25.7

CSE key features March 2, 2014

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract Traded Issues
509.52 9,468,146 17,861 238 59 174 4 2,191.03 26.56

News from trade server

EBL: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 31.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), Agargaon, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 4.15, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 30.37 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 20.58 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. PRIMEFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 30.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre, Block-C, Umme Kulsum Road, Bashundhara R.A., Baridhara, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated net profit after tax of Tk. 370.68 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.10, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 19.24 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 0.81 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. UCBL: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 17.04.2014, Time and Venue: To be notified later on. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.66, NAV per share of Tk. 24.51 and NOCFPS of Tk. (2.90) for the year ended on December 31, 2013. PUBALIBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 25.03.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Center, Baridhara, Dhaka. Record date: 10.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.90, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 23.27 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 1.71 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. BRACBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 10.04.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: BRAC CDM, Savar, Dhaka. Record date: 11.03.2014. The Company has also reported Consolidated Profit after tax of Tk. 1,339.35 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.20, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 29.38 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 11.42 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. ALARABANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 13.50% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 30.03.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Ichamati Hall, Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong. Record date: 13.03.2014. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.46, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 19.29 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 10.67 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. MARICO: The Board of Directors of the Company has declared 500% interim cash dividend for the year ending on 31st March 2014 based on 9 months financials for the period ended 31st December 2013. Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 12.03.2014.

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 Prime Finance-A Pubali Bank - A Al Arafa Islami B A Apex SpinningA Eastland Insur -A CVO PetroChem RL Z Sinobangla Indu.-A Prime Insur -A National Bank - B Closing (% change) -10.47 -9.42 -6.47 -5.92 -5.37 -5.35 -5.07 -4.81 -4.65

4697.30004 1002.26641 1702.74659 14513.4234 12220.2149 9191.5932

(-) 1.11% (-) 0.01% (+) 0.52% (-) 1.09% (-) 1.14% (-) 1.03%

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$)

Sonargaon Tex -A
CSE LOSERS Company

-4.57

Average (% change) -9.38 -12.33 -3.54 -6.32 -4.09 -3.71 -4.84 -4.35 -3.10

Closing average 27.06 33.05 19.33 85.19 50.45 839.69 28.72 27.93 12.51

Closing 26.50 32.70 18.80 84.20 49.30 822.00 28.10 27.70 12.30

Daily high 29.50 36.50 20.90 86.50 52.80 869.00 29.50 28.50 13.00

Daily low 25.00 30.00 18.00 82.30 49.00 818.20 27.40 27.70 11.80

Turnover in million 37.083 17.128 25.183 3.169 13.237 10.748 6.132 0.803 21.737

Latest EPS 1.10 2.90 2.46 1.85 3.60 -4.06 1.24 2.23 -3.63

Latest PE 24.6 11.4 7.9 46.0 14.0 -ve 23.2 12.5 -ve

-3.33

17.13

16.70

17.70

15.80

1.930

-0.69

-ve

Closing (% change) -10.14 -9.84 -8.95 -8.70 -6.85 -6.50 -6.29 -6.25 -6.02

Prime Finance-A Pubali Bank - A Prime Islami Life -A Aziz PipesZ National Life I -A Al Arafa Islami B A CVO PetroChem RL Z Asia Pasific Insu. -A Sinobangla Indu.-A

SonarBangla Insu. -A

-5.70

Average (% change) -9.09 -10.15 -8.79 -8.50 -6.39 -2.01 -6.04 -6.16 -5.52

Closing average 27.11 33.46 109.09 21.00 341.66 19.52 836.25 30.03 28.58

Closing 26.60 33.00 108.90 21.00 340.00 18.70 834.00 30.00 28.10

Daily high 28.80 36.00 115.00 21.00 345.00 20.90 836.00 30.10 29.30

Daily low 26.30 30.00 108.10 21.00 340.00 18.50 831.00 30.00 27.80

Turnover in million 7.344 0.871 0.147 0.011 0.188 2.215 0.268 0.060 2.858

Latest EPS 1.10 2.90 4.95 0.59 12.46 2.46 -4.06 2.67 1.24

Latest PE 24.6 11.5 22.0 35.6 27.4 7.9 -ve 11.2 23.0

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A Padma Oil Co. -A Square Pharma -A HeidelbergCement -A
BD Submarine Cable-A

-5.16

24.80

24.80

24.80

24.80

0.025

1.85

13.4

ANALYST

A stabbing tumble in large cap stocks closed the index surprisingly down

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 470.75 314.63 99.25 585.11 404.20 891.28 3.56 405.87 709.98 2.13 29.32 140.08 19.65 491.82 37.86 80.87 277.24 510.86 45.67 223.39 0.50

% change 8.20 5.48 1.73 10.19 7.04 15.52 0.06 7.07 12.36 0.04 0.51 2.44 0.34 8.56 0.66 1.41 4.83 8.89 0.80 3.89 0.01

Million Taka 63.07 25.48 6.46 49.56 26.32 61.40 30.65 47.06 0.37 3.20 6.56 1.27 32.52 6.54 2.40 12.68 77.81 8.88 47.78 0.06

CSE

% change 12.37 5.00 1.27 9.72 5.16 12.04 0.00 6.01 9.23 0.07 0.63 1.29 0.25 6.38 1.28 0.47 2.49 15.26 1.74 9.37 0.01

Million Taka 533.82 340.11 105.72 634.67 430.51 952.67 3.56 436.52 757.05 2.50 32.52 146.64 20.92 524.34 44.40 83.27 289.92 588.68 54.55 271.17 0.56

Total

% change 8.54 5.44 1.69 10.15 6.88 15.23 0.06 6.98 12.10 0.04 0.52 2.34 0.33 8.38 0.71 1.33 4.64 9.41 0.87 4.34 0.01

UCBL - A Delta Life Insu. -A ConfidenceCement A LafargeS Cement-Z Apex Footwear-A Active Fine Chem.-A IDLC Finance -A Uttara Finance -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N Renata Ltd. -A
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A

Jamuna Oil -A BSC A Singer BD -A

Volume shares 1,480,567 1,114,663 848,591 698,687 767,797 423,330 842,476 785,435 252,555 570,399

4,876,534 496,300 792,408 2,363,500 146,400 861,272 927,572 734,932 925,500 54,235

Value in million 324.26 253.67 246.34 236.04 205.68 196.11 186.60 185.66 159.40 146.64

138.19 133.72 124.19 93.36 85.77 78.76 72.02 66.58 58.57 56.63

% of total turnover 5.65 4.42 4.29 4.11 3.58 3.41 3.25 3.23 2.78 2.55

2.41 2.33 2.16 1.63 1.49 1.37 1.25 1.16 1.02 0.99

Daily closing 219.40 226.40 291.50 339.90 267.50 461.40 221.10 237.80 618.00 258.10

28.10 265.90 156.20 39.10 574.90 90.60 76.50 88.50 63.90 1047.80

Price change 2.52 0.85 2.35 3.88 0.68 3.13 0.82 2.32 -4.15 -0.08

0.72 -1.88 -1.20 -3.46 -3.07 -1.31 -3.04 -4.12 8.67 3.26

Daily opening 214.00 224.50 284.80 327.20 265.70 447.40 219.30 232.40 644.75 258.30

27.90 271.00 158.10 40.50 593.10 91.80 78.90 92.30 58.80 1014.70

29.00 274.90 160.00 41.80 605.00 93.10 79.90 94.90 64.40 1060.0
Daily high

Daily high 220.30 235.00 294.70 349.00 270.00 469.00 229.00 239.40 650.75 263.00

17.00 265.10 152.00 38.60 571.00 83.00 72.00 84.00 60.00 960.00
Daily low

Daily low 210.00 210.00 260.00 300.00 243.00 410.00 202.00 225.00 615.00 240.00

Daily average 219.01 227.58 290.29 337.84 267.88 463.26 221.49 236.37 631.14 257.08

28.34 269.43 156.72 39.50 585.83 91.45 77.64 90.59 63.28 1044.23

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

BSC A BD Submarine Cable-A UCBL - A Padma Oil Co. -A Singer BD -A HeidelbergCement -A Square Pharma -A AFC AgroBiotech-N Olympic Ind. -A Meghna Petroleum -A Jamuna Oil -A Delta Life Insu. -A Prime Finance-A UNITED AIR A National Bank - B ConfidenceCement A Appollo Ispat CL -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A AMCL (Pran) -A

202,400 59,210 150,931 898,787 64,743 73,025 31,570 54,211 188,000 51,625 39,331 47,964 34,000 270,850 473,518 539,200 41,680 204,400 189,739 23,900

Value in million

44.35 37.41 33.46 25.54 21.92 18.79 14.62 14.51 12.54 11.83 11.46 11.35 9.17 7.34 7.14 6.74 6.54 6.18 6.06 5.91

% of total turnover

8.71 7.34 6.57 5.01 4.30 3.69 2.87 2.85 2.46 2.32 2.25 2.23 1.80 1.44 1.40 1.32 1.28 1.21 1.19 1.16

Daily closing

218.80 617.00 221.10 28.20 340.20 257.60 461.80 267.70 66.80 226.90 291.00 235.90 267.00 26.60 15.00 12.20 155.70 30.10 31.70 252.70

Price change

2.43 -4.12 1.38 0.36 3.94 -0.77 2.97 1.02 1.83 0.75 2.36 2.08 -1.91 -10.14 -0.66 -4.69 -1.64 -1.31 -1.55 7.35

Daily opening

213.60 643.50 218.10 28.10 327.30 259.60 448.50 265.00 65.60 225.20 284.30 231.10 272.20 29.60 15.10 12.80 158.30 30.50 32.20 235.40

220.20 647.00 224.50 29.80 344.00 262.30 469.60 270.00 68.10 235.00 295.00 239.80 274.90 28.80 15.30 13.00 160.20 30.80 32.50 254.00

214.70 612.50 218.40 27.90 327.10 250.10 454.90 265.50 65.40 224.00 283.50 230.00 265.10 26.30 15.00 12.10 154.50 30.10 31.50 240.00

Daily average

219.14 631.80 221.70 28.41 338.53 257.36 463.04 267.61 66.68 229.17 291.47 236.69 269.71 27.11 15.07 12.51 156.81 30.26 31.94 247.31

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Monday, March 3, 2014

B3

UAE-led group to buy two India power plants in deal worth $1.6bn
n Reuters, Abu Dhabi
A consortium led by Abu Dhabi National Energy Co (TAQA) has agreed to buy two Indian hydroelectric power plants from Jaiprakash Power Ventures in a deal worth about $1.6bn, TAQA said yesterday. The group will spend $616m on equity in the plants, and in addition take over their non-recourse project debt, bringing the total enterprise value to around $1.6bn, a TAQA spokesman told Reuters. State-run TAQA, with 51% of the consortium, will control the operations and management of both plants under the deal. PSP Investments, one of Canadas largest institutional investors, will own 39% and an infrastructure fund run by Indias IDFC Alternatives will hold 10%. The two plants, located close to each other in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh, have a combined generating capacity of 1,391 megawatts, and are near another Indian hydroelectric plant in which TAQA acquired a stake last year. Along with a lignite power plant owned by TAQA, the latest deal will bring TAQAs combined generating capacity in India to 1,741 MW. The deal, which needs regulatory and third-party approvals, is expected to close in 2014, TAQA said. Shares in Jaiprakash Power jumped 12% on Friday in anticipation of the deal; Reuters reported early last month that it was close to being signed. On Friday, the Indian company said its board would meet on Saturday to consider recommendations for cutting debt and boosting shareholder value. Like many power and infrastructure

South Sudan government: oil production down 29%

n AFP, Khartoum
Fighting in South Sudan has cut production from the countrys lifeline oilfields by about 29%, the press secretary to President Salva Kiir said in Khartoum on Sunday. South Sudan is still getting more than 175,000 barrels a day, said Ateny Wek Ateny. That amount is down from 245,000 barrels per day before fighting began in mid-December between forces supporting Kiir and those from a loose alliance of ethnic militia and army defectors loyal to ex-vice president Riek Machar. Ateny did not give a dollar figure for how much revenue the government has lost, and said a true assessment can come only after fighting completely stops. I know that there are a number of properties that are destroyed in Bentiu, in Bor and in Malakal and we cannot have the assessment now until the war is over, he said. In late February, rebels loyal to Machar captured Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state where most of the Souths oil is produced. The rebel move on Malakal came despite a ceasefire that was supposed to be in place. Government forces in January recaptured Bentiu, the capital of another oil-producing area, Unity State. Indias ONGC Videsh Ltd, a partner in two joint oil production companies in South Sudan, announced on December 26 that the firms had temporarily halted operations there because of deteriorating security. Those fields were producing more than 40,000 barrels daily. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in July 2011 after a peace deal ended 22 years of civil war. The South split with about 75% of united Sudans oil production, but pipelines and the Red Sea export terminal remained in the north. Under an agreement between the two countries, Sudan was to receive an estimated $1.5bn this year in South Sudanese fees for using the northern export infrastructure, and a package to compensate for the loss of the Souths oil at separation.

'I know that there are a number of properties that are destroyed in Bentiu, in Bor and in Malakal and we cannot have the assessment now until the war is over'
That revenue due to Khartoum was down about 20% since fighting began in December, a Western diplomat said last month. The northern economy was already struggling with a shortage of foreign reserves, a weakened currency and soaring prices since South Sudan separated. The lost crude accounted for most of Khartoums export earnings and half of its fiscal revenues. In the South, oil made up about 80% of 2012 gross domestic product (GDP), but even before war broke out in December it was one of the continents least developed countries. GDP amounted to just $10.22bn in 2012, according to the World Bank. l

A general view of an electric power station on the outskirts of Jammu companies in India, Jaiprakash Power and its parent Jaiprakash Associates have suffered from large debts and weakness in the Indian economy over recent months. Including subsidiaries, Jaiprakash Associates had total debts of 550bn to 560bn rupees in September, which it planned to cut by 150bn rupees through sales of assets including cement and power plants during the current fiscal year through March. Jaiprakash Power reported a widening of its net loss to 1.53bn rupees in the

REUTERS

three months to December, while its shares are down about 40% in the past 12 months. Jaiprakash Associates last year sold its cement plant in Gujarat state to UltraTech Cement for around $594m including debt. l

US staring contest with Japan stretches out Pacific trade pact

n Reuters
A standoff between the United States and Japan is holding up talks on a sweeping Pacific free trade pact and a lack of authority to push an eventual deal through the US Congress without amendment may be undercutting Washingtons hand. the US is pretty key because they are the big players, Australian Trade Minister Andrew Robb told CNBC television, estimating that countries were about 80% done on market access issues, which include the tariffs and quotas causing much of the US Japan tension. There is talk in trade circles that For his part, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe needs the trade pact to drive through reforms to kick-start stagnant growth, including deregulation and increased competition. A Peterson study showed the TPP would boost Japans economy by 2.2% by 2025. US Trade Representative Michael Froman stressed that Canada was also a sticking point in Singapore, but the toughest issue is Japan, which is keen to protect politically powerful farmers and which levies average agriculture tariffs of 16.6%. While Japan is the United States fourth-biggest trading partner with goods and services flows worth about $280bn a year, it accounts for only 8% of US agricultural exports and 7% of services exports. Trade experts say Japan, although aligned with US interests on new trade issues like intellectual property and investment protections, will not put up its best offers until the White House secures fast-track negotiating power from Congress. So-called trade promotion authority (TPA) would bar the US Congress from amending trade deals; instead, it would have to simply give the thumbs-up or down. Without TPA, I think the level of ambition will be put in question, Luis de la Calle, who helped negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for Mexico, said at an event sponsored by the Brookings with Obama planning a trip to Asia in April that might allow some top-level trade lobbying. The other side is not going to give the hardest, most sensitive markets up for nothing, said Michael Green, Japan chair at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington and an Asia policy official under President George W. Bush. They would never have done it for (President Bill) Clinton and Bush ... without the US president first making the case loud and actively for authority to pass the agreement when they are done. But it will take a lot to convince critics. Although Republicans, who generally support free trade, have the numbers in the House, Democrats control the upper chamber, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has warned the administration to go slow on TPA. A TPA bill introduced in Congress last month is on hold while the new head of the Senate Finance Committee, Ron Wyden, consults with colleagues about its future. The top Democrat on the House committee responsible for trade, Sander Levin, has put plans for an alternative TPA bill with tougher protection for workers on the back burner for now. Addressing the issues and concerns of the people of this country on TPP is the No 1 item on the agenda now for trade, he said at the release of a study showing how many US jobs could be created by stopping foreign countries from manipulating currencies. l

'They would never have done it for (President Bill) Clinton and Bush ... without the US president first making the case loud and actively for authority to pass the agreement when they are done'

US Trade Representative Michael Froman (centre) speaks next to Japan's Economics Minister Akira Amari (left) and Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang during a news conference at the end of a four-day Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Ministerial meeting in Singapore last month REUTERS Institution and the Economic Club of Minnesota. Why would Japan put something on the table that might be reversed by the US Congress? from a good TPP. Well get this passed if its a good agreement, he said at a joint news conference in Mexico. While some trading partners, like Australia, have played down the lack of TPA, others with problems selling the TPP at home - like Japan and Malaysia - would like Obama to make a bigger push to win over Congress, especially trade skeptics within his own party worried about the impact on US jobs. Democrats cannot afford to spurn big business, the farm lobby or unions an important support base - before the elections. This complicates the time frame for passing TPA, particularly

After weekend talks in Singapore, including two separate sessions between Japan and the United States, Japanese Economics Minister Akira Amari said considerable gaps remained with the United States on bread-and-butter issues like farm tariffs. Other officials at the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) talks, which aim to create a free trade zone spanning 12 countries and nearly 40% of the global economy, noted the impasse between the two biggest economies in the bloc. What happens between Japan and

Japan might leave the talks if it will not drop barriers to imports of farm products such as beef and rice. But the Asian powers entry to the TPP last year was a game changer for many participants given its high-income population and relatively low import penetration. Many tried and failed in the past to negotiate a bilateral deal with Japan, so in a sense they are riding the coattails of the United States to get into the Japanese market, said Peterson Institute for International Economics trade analyst Jeffrey Schott.

Fast track on slow track

The problem for the US administration is that fast-track power is bogged down by domestic political sensitivities ahead of midterm elections in November. President Barack Obama said last week that he told his Mexican and Canadian counterparts, also TPP partners, that fast-track power would flow

eCommerce fairs in divisional cities

B1 COLUMN 3

Long Beach Suites Dhaka, a luxurious business hotel announces its opening on Saturday. The hotel will be an ideal venue for meetings, conferences, exhibitions and any social event, said a press release

Jamuna Bank Foundation inaugurated new premises of Jamuna Bank DP Primary School at Doricharitalook in Rupgonj, Narayangonj. Golam Dastagir Gazi, Bir Protik inaugurated the new premise as chief guest in the presence of the banks chairperson, Kanutosh Majumder

including online buy and sale of goods, Kamal Uddin said. The events would be held in association collaboration with EPB, BASIS, BTCL, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Amardesh Amargram and Computer Jagot. A committee headed by divisional Commissioners of the divisions has been formed at the meeting while Joint Secretary of ICT Division Shyama Prasad Bepari has been made as focal point to coordinate the activities of the fair.

Managing Director of Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority Hosne Ara Begum, Bangladesh Computer Council Executive Director S M Ashfaque Hussain, Joint Secretaries of ICT Division Gazi Mijanur Rahman, Shyama Prasad Bepari and Sushanta Kumar Saha, Export Promotion Bureau Director General Salahuddin Mahmud and representatives of Bangladesh Association of Software Information and Services (BASIS), Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Limited (BTCL) were present at the meeting. l

Buffett eyes big acquisitions after record Berkshire profit

n Reuters
Warren Buffett on Saturday signaled he plans to make more large acquisitions for Berkshire Hathaway Inc to expand his conglomerate, which posted a record profit in 2013 with the help of a recovering US economy. Americas best days lie ahead, Buffett, 83, said in his annual letter to Berkshire shareholders. Charlie and I have always considered a bet on ever-rising US prosperity to be very close to a sure thing, he added, referring to his 90-year-old vice chairman Charlie Munger. Though we invest abroad as well, the mother lode of opportunity resides in America. l

Social Islami Bank Limited held 248th meeting of its Boards executive committee the banks corporate office on Feb 26. The committees Alhaj Sk Mohammad Rabban Ali presided over the meeting

Prime Islami Life Insurance Limited (PILIL) recently held a training course on file and record management at the premises of Bangladesh Insurance Academys. The companys managing director, Kazi Mortuza Ali was chief guest of the course

B4
n Reuters, Tokyo
When Tokyo asked for bidders to build what is expected to be the world's largest fish market on the city's vacant eastern edge there were no takers. In a graphic illustration of how the hopes for "Abenomics" are falling short, the city was forced to raise by two-thirds its budget for the project to more than $1bn before some of Japan's top construction companies stepped forward. "Wages and material costs are rising, and that's why we failed to attract bidders the first time we tried," said Koji Ishii, a city official overseeing the project, on a sprawl of landfill at Toyosu, next to Tokyo Bay. Tokyo's predicament highlights a deeper problem for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic revival plan for Japan, comprising his "three arrows" of hyper-easy monetary policy, fiscal spending and growth-generating structural reform. The construction industry has gone through a scorching restructuring over the past decade and a half of hard times since Tokyo last opened the fiscal taps, government officials and managers in the business say. Many firms are choosing to walk away from government projects rather than invest more in equipment or hire workers - fixed costs that would be hard to shed in the next downturn. In the midst of a building boom, Japan's construction companies, who stand to benefit most directly from Abe's policies, are acting as though the good times will not last. Some critics argue that spending on public works projects - a mainstay of Japan's economic stimulus efforts in the 1990s - is wasteful and Abe would be better off focusing on deregulation and reform. But progress on that "third arrow" has been slow, and while Bank of Japan's massive monetary stimulus has been generally judged effective, the fiscal boost many hoped would keep the economy rolling is proving hard to restart.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, March 3, 2014

Abenomics struggles to deliver Japan public works boom

Blunting the second arrow
Problems with the "second arrow" of Abenomics are biting at a crucial moment for Japan's recovery. Investors have grown wary of slowing growth as Japan's economy heads for a speed bump: a 3-percentage point hike in the consumption tax hike in April. The benchmark Nikkei stock index is down nearly 8.5% this year - making Japan the worst performing major stock market. Even before Abe's public works push, contractors were already struggling to absorb demand for new building projects tied to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and reconstruction work in the areas of northern Japan destroyed by a 2011 tsunami. "Prime Minister Abe has been driving more public works, but we have work to be done for reconstruction in northern Japan and we have to control the number of projects we can take," said Junichi Ichikawa from Obayashi Corp, one of the contractors involved in the construction of Tokyo's new fish market. With companies cautious and workers scarce, local governments have been forced to cancel or scale back plans. As a result, money budgeted for bolstering the economy has stayed stranded in public coffers. Japan had to roll over to the next budget $37bn it failed to spend out of the $98bn earmarked for public works in the last fiscal year to March 2013. Government-funded construction projects contributed only a third as much to growth in the fourth quarter as they had in the previous two quarters. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance issued an unusual directive urging other government agencies to expedite public works spending in the face of an endemic shortage of labour, especially in skilled jobs where experienced workers are retiring and a younger generation has not been trained. The government also hiked the allocation for labour costs by 7%. of all construction workers were over 60 years old. "Construction companies don't believe the status quo will last for another 10 years. That's why they don't want to employ more workers," said Yorihisa Matsuno, a lawmaker from the opposition Japan Restoration Party who recently raised the issue of the stalled public works pipeline in parliament. "It's very risky to employ people in Japan. The lifetime employment system means you can't fire them easily." At the same time, many projects are running over initial budgets because of rising costs for materials like steel and cement. Part of Abe's economic plan is to push prices higher and break away from the deflationary, slow-growth spiral that had held in Japan for a decade and a half. But the experience of the construction sector shows the risk from higher prices. Government outlays on roads, buildings and bridges are buying less for the same amount of money. Prices for steel girders, or H-bars, used in large-scale projects in Japan have jumped to 82 yen per kg from 70 yen per kg in less than a year. The biggest jump in prices has been recorded in the areas of highest demand - the disaster area north of Tokyo. The Economic Research Association, which tracks prices for construction materials, said its reading for a basket of materials in Sendai - the northeastern city at the heart of Japan's reconstruction boom - stands at the highest level since it began keeping records in the early 1990s. With Japan's economy slowing, many analysts believe the Abe government will ready another fiscal stimulus package - and more public works spending - later this year. There is also a building expectation that the Bank of Japan will have to expand its already unprecedented injection of money into the economy. "It's hard to say public works is the best policy, but it has to be done," said Koichi Haji, an economist at NLI Research Institute. "The government has not come up with a better alternative yet." l

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a lower house budget committee session at the parliament in Tokyo week as a knot of workers assembled a fence, the first phase of a project to transform an expanse of open land as large as almost 60 soccer pitches into a wholesale fish market to replace the current, crowded market in Tsukiji, a tourist destination for its early morning bustle. The project is due to be completed by early 2016. The area nearby is also slated to be redeveloped to house Olympic athletes and major events for the 2020 games. Three groups won bids for the project, led by Taisei Corp, Shimizu Corp and Kajima Corp. Obayashi, Takenaka Corp, Tokyu Construction, Kumagai Gumi, Nishimatsu Construction are also involved. The Tokyo government will make up for the higher cost of the new fish market by delaying projects for ventilation and water distribution systems for the new market. The initial failed bidding process, in November, means that the project is already a month behind schedule, officials said. The Toyosu project is just one, highprofile, example of a widespread problem. In the northeast of Japan's main island, Honshu, the area destroyed by the 2011 tsunami and earthquake has seen a sharp rise in unsuccessful public works auctions. In December, a third of all jobs failed to attract bidders, government data show. That was up from zero percent just after the disaster. Other areas of Japan are also struggling to spend: 86 auctions for public works projects had to be re-run or cancelled in Abe's home area of Yamaguchi, including a $24m disaster prevention centre that had been planned for the city of Iwakuni, Japanese media said. "There are too many projects is-

REUTERS

sued at the same time, so companies have grown very selective because if you pick a big project and then can't gather enough workers, you go under," said Shozo Doi who runs a construction firm on the suburbs of Japan's secondlargest city, Osaka. Nearly half of the construction companies surveyed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in December predicted it will be difficult for them to secure skilled workers in the next two months. The survey also showed that the shortage of skilled workers needed to work on the biggest projects has deepened since the spring of 2013.

Shrinking workforce

Open field, failed auction

At the Toyosu site, three cranes and a half dozen trucks were moving soil this

Japan's construction workforce - like its population at large - is shrinking and aging, government data show. It is a third smaller than when public works peaked in 1997. As of 2010, about a fifth

Wifi in the sky looks set Iraq oil exports hit 25-year high in February for takeoff n
AFP, Basra

n AFP, Singapore
Wifi in aircraft, hobbled in the past by slow speeds, could soon take off as new technology enables passengers to surf the web as if they were in a coffee shop, Internet executives say. More airlines are rolling out new and improved services thanks to satellite technology, industry leaders said at the recent Singapore Airshow, with the public increasingly demanding wifi on planes. US-based Honeywell Aerospace and Gogo, which supply inflight connectivity systems to airlines, are collaborating with satellite giant Inmarsat to implement the "first global high-speed broadband for the skies" dubbed the Global Xpress (GX) Aviation network. Briand Greer, president of Honeywell Aerospace Asia Pacific, said inflight wifi could generate $2.8 billion for the company alone over the next 20 years. He estimates that around seven to eight percent of airlines currently offer wireless connection, but says this number is expected to grow to 25 percent by 2018. After years of being bogged down by weak demand due to poor signal quality, inflight wifi can now enable download speeds of up to 50 megabits per second, Greer said. "How we describe it is it will be like you are sitting at Starbucks with your smartphone, your computer and your iPad," Greer told reporters. Onboard wifi is not a new idea - European carrier Lufthansa debuted Conexxion by Boeing's system in 2004. But by 2006 the company announced its exit after the expected growth in the market did not materialise. Recent surveys by Airbus and Honeywell, however, suggest that the market might now be ready as passengers increasingly expect airlines to have inflight wireless services. Airbus published a report in February about the comfort demands of Asian passengers, carried out by global consultancy Future Laboratory. One of the future trends highlighted was that Asian business passengers would expect wifi enabled cabins with telephone and conference calling facilities. Honeywell also conducted a survey of 3,000 passengers from the United States, Britain and Singapore and nearly 90% would give up an amenity, such as drinks or a better seat, for a faster and more consistent wireless connec-

tion. When flying over land, planes use telecommunication towers to transmit Internet signals but during long-haul flights, when they fly over large expanses of water, consistent connectivity becomes a problem. In those cases, a satellite network is needed. In December last year, Inmarsat launched the first of three satellites that will serve the GX network. Air China will be the first airline to test it, on its A330 fleet in the second quarter of 2015. Singapore Airlines, which launched its $50m inflight connectivity programme in September 2012, said it planned to finish equipping its aircraft with the hardware by 2015. A Lufthansa spokesman said that it would also begin rolling out inflight wifi on all of its planes in the middle of this year. Even no-frills airlines are catching on. Thai budget airline Nok Air announced during the Singapore Airshow that it will equip its new Boeing 737 fleet with wifi. Peter Andersson, general manager of aviation navigation company Jeppesen, also said that the technology could benefit cockpit and airport operation. "If you have something that you need to repair, you can get the status check to the ground level so they can be prepared so they can actually do the maintenance quicker," Andersson told AFP. "You can reduce the turnaround and maintenance (of airplanes) dramatically." Sashangar Sreetharan, an analyst at McKinsey and Co who flies twice a week, said that only airlines with wifi were considered "preferred carriers" for his firm. But he admitted that although he often worked during flights, the wireless service quality so far has been sub-par. "The speed is quite slow and every now and then you lose signal, but it isn't too bad. However, once you are on a Virtual Private Network (VPN), the speed is so slow that gateway timeouts occur," Sreetharan told AFP. Sreetharan said he was not sure everyone would necessarily want wifi on planes. "Honestly, if the wifi was better I'd rather have it. I mean that is because my bosses are reasonable and don't push me while I'm flying," Sreetharan told AFP. "But if they started harassing me on flights, I guess I would swap to not having it, I don't want to be emailing back and forth during a long flight." l

Iraq exported 2.8 million barrels of oil per day in February, a top minister said yesterday, a sharp month- on-month gain and the highest such figure in at least a quarter-century. Production, meanwhile, reached 3.5 million bpd, the deputy prime minister for energy affairs, Hussein al-Shahristani, told reporters in the southern port city of Basra as he inaugurated a refinery. "Production in February was 3.5 million barrels per day, and we exported 2.8 million barrels per day," he said. The export figure was the highest since then dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990, triggering a crippling embargo and international sanc-

tions that massively restricted Iraq's energy industry. In 2012, when average daily exports

reached 2.5 million barrels per day, the oil ministry said it was the highest such figure since 1989.

Shahristani said February output would have been significantly higher if not for energy disputes with the country's three-province autonomous Kurdish region. Most of Iraq's crude is exported via its southern terminals near Basra, but a significant portion goes through a northern pipeline that is periodically bombed by militants. Iraq is heavily dependent on oil exports, and the government is seeking to dramatically ramp up sales to fund the reconstruction of its battered infrastructure. Officials aim to increase production capacity to nine million bpd by 2017, a target both the International Energy Agency and the International Monetary Fund have warned is overly optimistic. l

MEETING THE NEEDS

Nokia Treasure Tags (right) are presented during the 2014 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Each Tag pairs to your Nokia Lumia smartphone via NFC or Bluetooth. Once linked, both the phone and the Tag will emit loud alarms if either of them moves out of range of the othertypically about 40 meters AFP