Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Print Edition: 20 April 2014
Print Edition: 20 April 2014
DA 6238 Vol 2, No 21
www.dhakatribune.com
SECOND EDITION
With the summer heat rising, the number of water-borne diseases have risen significantly over the past few weeks. The picture shows patients receiving treatment at a hospital in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
NUMBERS OF CASES FILED WITH POLICE FOR ABDUCTION OVER THE YEARS
Data according to Police Head Quarters
1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Abduction cases filed
Jan-Mar 2014
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10
0
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
SLH/DT INFOGRAPHIC
February
Architect Iqbal Habib, the joint secretary of BELA speaks at the press conference regarding the Dhanmondi Club ground yesterday. Prof. Zamilur Reza Chowdhury, Prof. Nazrul Islam and Prof. Zafarullah Chowdhury are also seen in the picture. (Right) Monjur Kader (C), the president of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, makes a point in a press conference held on the club premises yesterday MUMIT M
January
March
INSIDE
News
5 Man arrested with Rs50 lakh at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday morning.
Nation
6 Members of seven ethnic minority families in Rajshahi district are living under open sky as their houses were demolished.
Op-Ed
11 For Imran H Sarkar, its a lost battle. A formal end to his reign in an invisible empire based in Shahbagh since February 2013 is now in sight.
Sport
14 Atletico Madrid took another step towards their first La Liga title for 18 years as two goals in the last 20 minutes handed them a 2 0 win over Elche at the Vicente Calderon on Friday.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Police produce two criminals involved in making fake NID cards at the DMP Media Centre in the capital yesterday. Story on Back Page
DHAKA TRIBUNE
of over 1.3kg gold with the arrest of 6 other expatriates Friday night. Identified as Zakir Hossain of Comilla, the man was arrested around 9:15pm while he had been crossing the Green Channel with the gold bars, said Moinul Khan, director general of the directorate. He said, The gold worth around Tk 1 crore was seized after his movement was seemed to us suspicious. l
Only two female forensic specialists Dhanmondi playground only for elite!
PAGE 1 COLUMN 5
of female doctors to examine rape victims and ascertain the age of girls has been fulfilled or not. Dr Md Shah Newaz, director (administration) of the DGHS, confirmed the news and claimed that the directorate has already posted female doctors as per the High Courts directive. Although the DGHS had previously submitted a list of female doctors who were assigned to examine rape victims, the court official concerned did not present it before the judges, Shah Newaz said, adding that the director general would again present the list to the court today. The Health Ministry has also re-
portedly drafted a new guideline that, if implemented, will bind police to record a rape victims statement within three hours of being approached and hospitals to conduct medical examinations without police reports. The draft quashes the two-finger test, traditionally used by doctors to find out whether someone was really raped or not. The guideline labels the test unscientific and horrendous. DMC Professor Dr Habibuzzaman, who heads the sub-committee for preparing the draft of the new guideline, told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday that the draft guideline has already been finalised and will be submitted before the ministry soon. l
PAGE 1 COLUMN 1
dropped in the capitals Mirpur Thursday night after over 30 hours following his kidnap by an armed gang of seven to eight. Abu Bakar Siddique said he had been on his way to Dhaka from his garment factory at Fatullah in Narayanganj when the incident took place. Syed Nurul Islam, superintendent of police in Narayanganj district, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday they were trying to make headway in their investigation. Although the victim is freed, our bid to unravel the mystery will continue. We are also trying to recover the vehicle used in kidnapping, said the SP. Meanwhile, to accelerate the investigation, a five-member committee comprised of senior officials of Police, RAB and DB visited the garment factory of the businessman yesterday afternoon and also the spot from where he had been abducted. The probe body led by Additional Commissioner Sheikh Maruf Hasan of Dhaka Metropolitan Police vowed to solve the mystery. Besides, Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam of DB at a press briefing in the capitals Minto Road said they had been conducting investigation on the basis of deposition given by the victim before a Narayanganj court on Friday. The police official claimed that the businessman was kidnapped in a planned way. CNG auto-rickshaw driver Hafizul Islam who carried Siddique from Kazipara of Mirpur also gave deposition at the court yesterday. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, BELA
Chief Rizwana Hasan said they were not aware of the progress of investigation as the lawmen did not disclose anything to them. She added that they themselves failed to guess why her husband was abducted. Following his release, businessman Siddique described his experience as saying that the abductors released him near the Ansar Camp at Mirpur 1 around midnight with his eyes blindfolded and gave him Tk300. I could not see anything for some time after opening the blindfold which I was forced to wear since my abduction, Siddique said, adding that he took a rickshaw to Kazipara from where he hired a CNG auto-rickshaw to go to his residence in central road area. But I was stopped by police at the check post near the Kalabagan playground, he said. When Siddique identified himself he was taken to Dhanmondi police station. His family was informed of his whereabouts and asked to come to the police station. They changed the car after kidnapping me and after around three or four hours I was taken to a house where I was confined in a room on a higher floor. I also slept on the floor, Siddique told reporters at the police station. He, however, said the abductors did not misbehave with him except for some scuffles. They gave me food and water properly and also bought me medicines when I informed them that I had high blood pressure. Siddique said the abductors aged around 35 years, stout and short-haired. l
them when reporters approached him. He said two to three newspapers were unethically hampering the development work on the playground. You interviewed me over phone, but it wasnt published. I am cha lenging the owner of your newspaper. Hell pay for this, Manjur yelled at a reporter. In the wake of protests by the green activists, the club arranged the briefing to make clear its stance on the playground. Before starting the briefing, the club authorities arranged a Power Point presentation to show the playgrounds present and past condition. A documentary on the success of the club was also screened. Although the briefing lasted for two hours, the club authorities only allowed reporters five minutes to ask questions. However, they only took questions from two reporters before wrapping up. The playground was earlier a haven for drug addicts and floating sex workers. Different seasonal fairs were also arranged here. It is Sheikh Jamal
Club that brought sporting events back here, Manjur observed. Mobassher Hossain built commercial office in Dhanmondi Residential area and now he is raising his voice in favour of Dhanmondi residents. Call the residents. I want to see whose call they respond to, Mobassher or mine, he added. Nazmul Hassan Papon echoed the same view and said: My support for all the activities of the club will be there. We will assist them if we are asked to do so. Apart from Manjur, Bangladesh Cricket Board President Nazmul Hassan Papon and former players of the club, including Shahed Reza, Tanvir Mazharul Hossain Tanna and Shawkat Aziz Russel, spoke at the briefing. Most of the people living here support the 10-point demand placed by the green activists. We, however, didnt speak overtly because the playground is under full control of the club named after the younger brother of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a resident of Dhanmondi told the Dhaka Tribune. He also said the club authorities had indirectly threatened the locals to keep
mum on the issue. Meanwhile, the club authorities sued some activists on Friday, hours after they demonstrated against illegal occupation of the playground and construction of structures on it. The clubs General Secretary Arifur Rahman filed the case with Dhanmondi police station against former president of Institution of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) Mobassher Hossain, architect Salma A Shafi, Bangladesh Womens Sports Association General Secretary Kamrunnahar Dana, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) Iqbal Habib and several others for creating chaos in the playground. Activists of over 50 environmental and social organisations and also residents of Dhanmondi are forming human chains and organising rallies demanding the playground be opened to the people and all illegal structures by the club be stopped. In 2004, following submission of a petition by Bapa and IAB, the High Court directed the then city corporation (now Dhaka South City Corpora-
tion) to free Dhanmondi playground from the illegal occupation by Sheikh Jamal Club. In March 2011, the court again ordered the DSCC, the Public Works Ministry and the club authorities to remove all illegal structures so that the ground remained open to everyone. l
Eminent citizens
PAGE 1 COLUMN 5
thought twice about what they are doing. They are supporting restrictions on play by children on a ground, he said. Prof Zafrullah Chowdhury, the founder of Gonoshasthaya, got surprised to see his name among four persons who tried to enter the ground. Security personnel prevented me from entering the ground. Filing of the case against me proved that the field is not open to all. If a man wants to walk into the field and see his name to be included as a law-breaker, it is really shocking. I urge the people concerned to withdraw the case, he said. l
have gone missing in the last couple of years. Besides the ruling party leaders, a number of leaders of other parties are also missing. Family members of the victims claimed that the abductors had not demanded money after their disappearance. According to the statistics of human rights watchdog Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 268 people were abducted between 2010 and March this year. Of them, bodies of 43 persons were found, 24 released while 14 handed over to police. However, the remaining 187 people are still missing and their families and the law enforcers do not know anything about their whereabouts. The maximum number of abductions took place during first three months of the current year when 39 people were abducted, says ASK. Among them, 11 were BNP leaders, four service holders, four Chhatra League leaders, three Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders, two Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders, one Jamaat-e-Islami leader, three businesspersons and 11 general people.
Of the 39, bodies of only 12 persons were recovered, but the fate of remaining others is still shrouded in mystery. The figure of crime cell of the Police Headquarters reveals that a total of 10,182 cases and general diaries were filed regarding abductions across the country since 2002 until last year. Even though the ASK reports about 39 abductions this year, police said a total of 196 cases were filed. More significantly, the law enforcers have totally failed to start investigation of over 3,000 cases registered after 2002, alleged a source. Asked why not initiate probe in so many cases, Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker refuted the allegation. He affirmed that the law enforcers had conducted investigation in every abduction incident. During investigation, police unearth mystery behind the incidents. But it takes some time in some cases, he said. The IGP further states that if any specific complaint comes up against any official of the law enforcement agencies, action follows against the accused after investigation. BNP leader and former lawmaker Il-
ias Ali went missing around two years ago and the law enforcers so far submitted 36 progress reports to the court. Like Ilias, police have also failed to make any headway in the abductions of BNPs Laksham upazila unit President Saiful Islam Hiru and municipality unit President Humayun Kabir. They were arrested allegedly by some RAB personnel on November 27 last year. Joint Organising Secretary Jasim Uddin of the same unit was also picked up at that time. However, Jasim was later handed over to Laksham police the same night. The law enforcers have failed to trace the two others. President of the Awami Leagues ward 41 unit Hazi Nur Mohammad was abducted on October 19, 2011 from his residence in Savar. His son-in-law Abdul Mannan and Mannans friend Iqbal were working to trace him. However, they were also abducted from the capitals Agargaon area on December 3 and have remained missing until date. Hazi Mohammad Wazi Ullah, president of Dhaka Super Market Owners Association in Bangabazar area, went missing in 2011.
Police are yet to trace him while the abductors did not demand anything for his release. Jubo League leader Liyakat Hossain was picked up from his own residence on Dhanmondi 27 on November 26, 2008. He has since remained missing and no progress yet been made. The abduction cases of Jubo League leader of Fenis Sonagazi upazila unit Sarowar Jahan Babul, Dhakas ward 98 Jubo League Organising Secretary Tushar Islam Titu and Pallabi unit Awami Leagues Relief Affairs Secretary Abdul Karim Howlader are still unresolved. In this regard, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, state minister for home affairs, told the Dhaka Tribune: We have already given special instruction to the authorities concerned to complete the investigations of old abduction cases and the general diaries filed with different police stations. He observes that usually, a group of people after abduction puts the blame on the law enforcers. Those who are responsible for these heinous acts will not be spared and the persons still missing must be rescued following fair investigation, he added. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
A doctor puts a black badge on his colleguess apron yesterday demanding security in their workplaces ajul Islam, his unruly relatives assaulted and injured Dr Anowar Hossain, Dr Kalyan Devnath and Dr Shamima Akter of the Endocrinology Department. Relatives of the deceased, however, have been claiming that he died due to negligence in treatment. They also denied assaulting any doctor or vandalising the hospital. The Birdem authorities did not file any case regarding the incident, but recorded a general diary with the Ramna police station. The affected doctors, however, said they planned to file a case with the court today. Meanwhile, a probe committee, which was formed to investigate whether there was any negligence in the treatment of the patient, Sirajul Islam, is expected to submit its report today.
The hospital authorities have asked Mirza Mahbubul Hasan(director of clinical services) to check the treatment issue. The committee will talk with the patients relatives. It will not work to find out what happened that night during the attack on the doctors, AK Azad, president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone yesterday. l
ICCCAD Director Dr Saleemul Haq delivers his keynote speech at the sceond National Conference on Community-based Adaptation to Climate Change in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR
4
Two frauds caught n Kailash Sarkar
RAB arrested two people who had been conning people of their money and introducing themselves as Jiner Badsha (kings of genies). Abu Miah, 22, and his elder brother Milon Miah of Gosaipur village in Gaibandhas Gobindaganj upazila were held at Dhakas New Market and Gaibandha, respectively, said RAB-2 Operation Officer Raihan Uddin Khan. The duo had been cheating naive people by promising them a lucrative change in their lives over the next two years, he said. They deceived Kalpona Akter Sweety from Dhakas Hazaribagh into giving them over Tk 4,00,000, he said. They described how they used to cheat people at a press conference in Dhaka city yesterday. Abu and Milon said they used to first target naive people and then collect their details so that they could deceive the gullible people into believing them to be so-called kings of genies. They added that another of their brothers, Sabur Miah, 22, was also involved. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
n Rabiul Islam
Malaysia has recently placed demand for 2,000 skilled workers to recruit them in its plantation sector, bypassing the government-to-government mechanism. The Malaysian interior minister had placed the demand to the Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry through the Bangladesh high commission in Kuala Lumpur. The government of Bangladesh on November 26, 2012 signed an agreement with the Malaysian government to send workers to that country in a systematic way. Under the agreement, so far nearly 4,000 workers had gone to Malaysia to work in the plantation sector.
Now an aspirant migrant has to spend only Tk30,000 to go to Malaysia, but it was Tk300,000-Tk400,000 before signing the agreement. However, the government initiative was hailed by various quarters. Officials at Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) said a Malaysian company, Feelda, wants to recruit 2,000 skilled workers, including foremen and supervisors, in the plantation sector. And the company placed the demand to MCAB, a high-powered committee comprising several ministries. Accordingly, the Malaysian interior minister placed the demand to the government of Bangladesh. I cannot tell you why the demand was placed bypassing the existing
G-to-G system, Bangladesh labour counsellor in Kuala Lumpur Mantu Kumar Biswas told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday. Seeking anonymity, a senior official at the Expatriates Welfare Ministry said, If we allow recruitment out of the G-to-G system, mechanism will be challenged. We have asked BMET to examine whether the required manpower is available on the government database, the official said, adding that they would try to send workers through BMET. We have received the demand, but we will not allow the recruitment out of the G-to-G system, BMET Director General Begum Shamsun Nahar told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. An official at BMET which deals with
overseas employment said they were scrutinising the demand to find out required workers. Various vested groups at home and abroad had been opposing the G-to-G system soon after signing the deal. Expatriates Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain was determined to maintain the G-to-G system. The minister on different occasions warned that he would never allow irregularities. Earlier, private recruiters sent 100 workers which was surplus to requirements, causing sufferings to the additional workers. Despite praiseworthy attempts, the government has to face criticism as it has failed to send workers as per its expectations. l
n Tribune Report
The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) awarded scholarships to its highest-achieving students for the Fall 2013, Spring 2013 and Summer 2013 terms at its Dhanmondi Campus, yesterday. Nurul Kabir, editor of the New Age, attended the function as the chief guest. He presented the Deans Honour List Scholarships and the Vice Chancellors Honour List Scholarships to the respective recipients. Both scholarships cover full tuition for an entire term. ULAB also awarded its two most prestigious Scholarships, the Kazi Anisur Rahman Scholarship to Zulker Naeen of the Media Studies and Journalism Department and the ARM Inamul Haq Scholarship to Tonmoy Kar of the Department of Business Administration. Vice Chancellor of ULAB Professor Imran Rahman also awarded some of the scholarships. These scholarships cover full tuition with a stipend for the students who have achieved outstanding academic merit and school spirit. Professor Brian Shoesmith, senior advisor, Strategic Planning, began the ceremony with a welcome speech and Professor Imran Rahman, vice chancellor of ULAB, gave a closing speech. l
Shopkeepers suspect robbers entered Kolpana Jewellers from the adjacent shop by cutting through the common wall
The owner of The Kolpana Jewellers claimed that 150 tolas (1.75kg) of gold jewellery, mortgaged gold worth Tk14 lakh and Tk7 lakh in cash were taken. Police said the robbery probably took place between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. Police picked up four people, including two night guards, for questioning. Police also suspect the involvement of a next door shopkeeper, who has
A man shows journalists the hole in a common wall of the jewelery shop through which robbers looted 150 tolas of gold at the capitals Farmgate yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU ha lock the main collapsible gate of the floor and keep the keys with them. Nobody is allowed to stay in the shops at night. We do not know how the gold was stolen after all the security measures, Swapan said. The guards reportedly told police that they did not hear any breaking sounds while on duty. Meanwhile, Didarul, the owner of the shop on the eastern side, said he had rented it out to a man named Milon for Tk30,000 per month. Last month, I rented that shop to Milon, who is now missing. Milon told me that he would run a mobile phone accessories shop there. He started his business this month, Didarul said. Afruzul Haque, assistant commissioner of the DMPs Tejgaon zone, said they were trying to apprehend Milon. l
Government mulling campaign for artificial insemination to meet local protein demand
n Mohosinul Karim
The government is planning to conduct a mass campaign to promote artificial insemination in livestock to improve varieties and to fulfil the countrys increasing demands for protein. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock is expected to start the mass-campaign, which will create awareness among the people about this, in Thakurgaon on May 6. After finishing the campaign in northern districts, the ministry will conduct the campaign in other districts of the country, Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Sayedul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune last week. At the same time, the government will also establish five new Semen Laboratories in the country. At present, Bangladesh only has one such laboratory in Dhaka. The new laboratories will be established in Rajshahi, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Sylhet. The Semen Laboratory in Rajshahi is expected to be completed by next month. The initiative has been taken to preserve high quality semen from cattle and chicken, after importing the specimens from abroad. The minister also said India has fulfilled its demand for animal protein through milk, meat and eggs from its local production. It has done so by conducting cooperative activities in the sector. The Indian authority has operated artificial insemination programmes throughout the country to improve the varieties of cattle and poultry. It helped them to become self-sufficient in the sector even with a population of 135 crore, he said. He further added: But, despite being a small country with a population of only 16 crore, Bangladesh produces a small portion of our real demand. We could not achieve it [self-sufficiency] as most of our varieties are old. We must improve the varieties by artificial insemination and spread it all over the country. According to the ministrys statictics, the basic demand for milk in Bangladesh was around 1.40 crore metric tonnes in the fiscal year 2012-13, while the basic production was at 50.67 lakh tonnes, covering only 30% of the countrys demand. At the same time, basic demand for meat was around 67.20 lakh metric tonnes, while basic production was only 36.20 lakh tonnes, covering 54% of the demand. Similarly, the annual demand for eggs was around 1597.40 crores in the same year, while basic production was only 761.74 crore, which covered 48% of the countrys needs. According to the ministry, there are around 330,116 dairy and poultry farms in the country at present with 114,555 of those being registered farms and 212,561 remaining unregistered. Among the farms, 254,762 are poultry farms while the rest are dairy farms. The minister also noted that a Bangladeshi delegation of experts, led by the fisheries and livestock minister, will visit India soon to gain further knowledge in this regard. We will try to ensure improved varieties of cattle and poultry for every family in the country as per the demand. As a result, they will get adequate animal proteins and we will have a meritorious new generation, he added. l
Obituary
MA Qasem, group director of BEXIMCO died at 11:15am at United Hospital Ltd. (Innalillahe Wa Innna Ilaihe Rajeun) yesterday. He was 80. He left his wife, three sons, a daughter, grandchildren and wellwishers to mourn his death.
Leaders of Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal march towards Lalmonirhaat yesterday demanding fair share of Teesta waters from India BANGLAR CHOKH
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
People use the countrys first escalator-equipped foot-over bridge in the capitals Chairman Bari area yesterday
RAJIB DHAR
Rajshahi Medical College Officials helpless as grabbers becomes university eat up Kalandi canal
n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi
The Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim formally announced the Rajshahi Medical College as Shaheed AHM Kamruzzaman Medical University yesterday. The minister said the Rajshahi Medical College is being named after AHM Kamruzaman who was the minister for relief and rehabilitation of the expatriate government during the Liberation War in 1971. The minister made the declaration at a views-exchange meeting at the Kaisar Ali Memorial Auditorium of Rajshahi Medical College. Shaheed Kamruzzaman is also the father of Khairuzzaman Liton, former mayor of the Rajshahi City Corporation. The Health Ministry issued a circular on April 15 stating that the government had decided to upgrade the status of the Chittagong and Rajshahi medical colleges into medical universities. Sources said these would be the countrys second (and third) public medical universities. At present, there is only one medical university, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. This latter was also upgraded from being a post-graduate institute to a medical university in 1998. Former Rajshahi city mayor AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, local lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha, Bangladesh Medical Association President Mahmud Hasan, Secretary General Iqbal Arsalan, were present at the programme among others. Earlier, the Awami League government had initiated the status upgrade of the Dhaka Medical College into a medical university but had to cancel the decision due to a huge protest from the third and fourth class employees of the hospital. l
Though the canal is now drying up, the land grabbing continues unabated. It will soon go off the map in the upazila, allege the locals. The Dhaka Tribune correspondent also visited the canal, which flows into the Teesta River, and found shops and multi-storey buildings being built on both sides of it. Talking to locals, it was learned that influential people, mainly involved in politics, had set their eyes on this canal soon after the political changeover in 1990s. Land grabbing, however, came to a halt after the 1/11 changeover on January 11, 2007, when some installations set up along with both sides of the canal had been demolished. Later, in early 2008, it began again and has been continued unhindered. Assistant Officer of Akhaura upazi-
la Land Office Saroar Alam said: We cannot reclaim this canal or stop them from encroaching on it since it is not recorded as khas land. But we have filed civil suits against more than one of the land grabbers, he added. The land grabbers say they own the land as per BS and RS khatians, claiming that their lands were outside the canal boundaries. Asked about this, Akhaura Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Khurshid Shahriar echoed Alam. This canal is not recorded on surveys and the grabbers are taking advantage. Yet, we are trying to stop the land grabbing. When we go to stop it, they [land grabbers] file cases with the courts against us. We have written to the deputy commissioner about it, he added. l
WEATHER
n UNB
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday called for extensive research on zoology to help protect biodiversity and ensure food security. Addressing a seminar at Dhaka University, the minister said the study of zoology should match countrys development agenda. The seminar discussed education, research and job opportunities for Zoologists in Bangladesh and its problem and prospects. It was jointly organised by the Zoology Department of DU and the Zoology Association. Nahid said the government will take steps for ensuring world-class, modern education to speed up national development. Presided over by Zoology Association chairman Prof Monjur Chowdhury, the seminar was also addressed by DU Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman Ikram Ahmed, and chairman of Zoology Department of DU, Prof M Moksed Ali Howlader. l
39.5C Rangamati
Source: Accuweather/UNB
20.5C Srimangal
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 4:14am 5:32am 11:57am 4:31pm 6:22pm 7:41pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
Members of Amra Nagar Bashi form a human chain in front of the National Press Club demanding a formalin-free Bangladesh
DHAKA TRIBUNE
6
Separate land commission for the minority people demanded
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Ethnic family members are living under open sky at Pachondor Mahalipara in Tanore upazila of Rajshahi after the local administration along with land grabbers have demolished their houses recently DHAKA TRIBUNE
Employees of Milk Vita Ltd form human chain yesterday in Baghabari under Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj district demanding regularisation of their job DHAKA TRIBUNE
NEWS IN BRIEF
Man electrocuted in Jhenidah
A man died from electrocution in Jhenidah town on Friday morning. The deceased was identified as Akkas Ali, 50, son of late Samer Ali Mandal, a resident of Goyeswar village in Jhenidah Sadar upazila. He used to work as a night guard in Bazar Para area of the town. Officerin-charge Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury of Sadar Police Station, quoting locals, said Akkas Ali came in contact with a live electric wire while plucking drumsticks (sojne) climbing a tree on the premises of the house of the judicial magistrate at 9:00am. Informed, a fire fighting unit from the local fire station came in and disentangled the body from the wire. Police recovered the body and sent it for autopsy. UNB her abduction from Jakiganj upazila in Sylhet. The rescued girl was Afia Begum,14, daughter of Kabir Uddin, a resident of Rasulpur village in Jakiganj. Earlier, one day after the incident, police arrested Sohel Ahmad,22, son of Sahab Uddin, a resident of Maijkandi village in Jakiganj, in connection with the abduction. Police said Sohel and one of his associates picked up Afia from in front of her residence at Rasulpur village on January 19. The victims father Kabir filed a case against Sohel with Jakiganj Police Station on January 26. Following secret information, a team of police led by Subinspector Yunus Ali of the police station rescued the girl from a house nearby Barolekha Bazar in the afternoon. UNB Khulna BGB Battalion-23 Putkhali camp, said acting on a tip-off that some Bangladeshis were being sent to India through the border point, a team of the border force conducted a drive in Charer Math area of the border and rescued the gullible people. The rescued people, who hail from different areas of Jessore, Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Narail and Gopalganj districts, include 15 women and one child, BGB sources said. However, the human traffickers fled the scene after sensing the presence of the BGB team. Later, the rescued were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station. A case was filed in this connection. UNB of Kubir Ali of Garatola area in the upaizla. Being tipped off, a team of RAB 5 conducted a raid in the area and arrested the three arms traders along with one kg gunpowder, a pistol, a magazine and four rounds of bullet, said the captain of RAB 5. A case was filed in this connection. UNB
Police rescued a schoolgirl from Barolekha upazila in Moulvibazar district on Friday afternoon three months after
Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) rescued 29 people, including women and children, while they were being trafficked to India through Putkhali border here on Friday night. Subedar Farid Uddin, commanding officer of
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Career
Around 3 million Bangladeshis are using Facebook today and this number is increasing rapidly on a daily basis
Companies are starting to take notice of this and reformat it into data. For example, a major retailer can track Instagram photos of a consumer who posts a picture of a purchased product. This enables them to build a profile of their lifestyle, expenditure and other products which they may be likely to consume. As the manufacturing industry becomes more difficult to fund and more competitive, todays entrepreneurs
increasingly are pivoting themselves towards the service based industries. They are choosing innovative fields such as the social media to build their ideas and quench their entrepreneurial thirst. As Bangladesh evolves into a modern economy gearing itself as a hub for technology-based start-up companies, these entrepreneurs will play a pivotal role in how all businesses interact with their consumers and in doing so spawn a whole new industry. l Nakibul Hoq is a research analyst at GradConnect, an international career information and advisory firm. You can email him at nakib@grad-connect.com and find more career information at www.gradinsights.com and www.grad-connect.com. Naiian Yazdani is the director of strategy at GradConnect. You can email him at naiian@ grad-connect.com.
BIGSTOCK
prominence and popularity in Bangladesh is Facebook, pointing to the next frontier of advertising for enterprises social media. At Webable, a Dhaka-based start-up specialising in digital marketing and brand creation on the digital platform, the employees work with the modes of mass-communication over social media. Around 3 million Bangladeshis are using Facebook today and this number is increasing rapidly on a daily basis. FMCGs, NGOs, financial services firms, consultancies, etc recognise this surge of people spending their time on social media and are looking to align their marketing strategies accordingly in search of a competitive advantage. According to Shadab Mahbub, cofounder and chief innovation officer at Webable: The social media marketing industry is growing at an exponential rate. In the two months since we began operations, we have already worked
An enterprise in this medium requires an understanding of the processes in order to maximise its value
The role of these digital marketers is to utilise the identity of the organisation and create a brand image on the social media platforms. They meet with the brand manager to brainstorm and formulate the optimal strategies to expose the product and the company to the mass audience. This job entails various moving parts such as identifying the target consumers, devising the format and forms of the output and packaging it in an efficient and deliverable manner. This may include the creation of graphics content, websites and articles to promote the brand in the market.
BIGSTOCK
Do the research
While leaves are ideally a great time to relax, the holidays, more specifically the days leading up to the holidays can be extremely stressful
The first step is to do your research. Study your contract. Exactly how many leaves are you entitled to? Can you put them all together and take a long leave? Would you rather break them into two shorter leaves? Find out how many days you are allowed to have off. There are various nuances to a contract, so instead of making assumptions, it is safest to meet with the HR department and your supervisor and make sure you know which days you can officially have off.
Inform colleagues
Save up days
If you are planning to go on a big leave and require a few more days off than you have for vacations, save up on leaves the rest of the year. Many com-
Make sure that everybody on your team is aware of your plans. You dont have to go into personal holiday plans but it is best to mention if youll be out of town or out of country, in case you are needed for emergencies. Sharing just this little bit of information upfront will avoid uncertainties later. It reduces significant stress for everybody when the team is aware of who is re-joining when.
A kickback - an amount of money that is paid illegally for favorable treatment Land an account - to acquire an account Lay (something) on the table - to present a matter for discussion Lead time - the amount of time between the placing of an order and the receipt of the goods that you have ordered, the time available to prepare for something Line of products - a group or category of products that are similar to each other Make a go of (something) - to produce good results, to succeed at something Make a motion - to make a suggestion or proposal at a meeting Make money hand over fist - to make money fast and in large amounts Move a product - to sell a product A number cruncher - an accountant, someone who works with numbers On the block - to be for sale, to go on sale Out-of-pocket expenses - the direct expenses that one must personally pay for something Out of the loop - to not be part of a group of people that is kept up-to-date with information about something Outsource (something) - to use outside sources for something rather than those within a company or its facilities Overnight (something) - to send a document or package somewhere for delivery the next day Pay off - to succeed, to yield good results Plug a product - to promote a product Put ones nose to the grindstone - to work diligently or hard
Leave a replacement
Whether someone is officially assigned to do your work during your absence or a colleague offers to pick up the slack, make sure you are sharing enough relevant information about all on-going projects you are handling with your team. In case work has to move forward while you are gone and someone has to fill-in, the more information your temporary replacement has, the easier the time will be for everyone. It will also significantly reduce the chance of you having to return to a growing pile on your desk on your first day back.
Do a final meeting
BIGSTOCK
Even if not an official meeting, try arranging a casual sit down before the vacation with your employer and fellow colleagues. It will be easier for everyone to leave things as neat and tidy as possible. Getting on top of as many projects, phone calls and emails as possible before leaving is ideal. Most importantly, use the meeting to set some ground rules for when you are not going to be there. In case you need to be contacted during the holidays, make sure everyone knows how, when and where. Make clear what times you will dedicate to leisure, and leave a schedule for when it is appropriate to contact you. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
15 Qaeda suspects How the US made its Putin problem worse n killed in Yemen Poll: Most in Donetsk
Reuters, Washington
n AFP, Sanaa
A drone strike yesterday killed 15 Al-Qaeda suspects and three civilians in Yemens central Baida province, a stronghold of the extremist group, a security official said. The jihadists were travelling in a vehicle towards the southern Shabwa province, witnesses said. The three civilians were passing by in another car. The United States is the only country that operates drones in Yemen, but officials rarely discuss the covert programme. Last month, Yemens President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi defended the use of drones against Al-Qaeda in his country, which has killed dozens of militants in a sharply intensified campaign over the past year. Drone strikes have greatly helped in limiting Al-Qaeda activities, despite some mistakes, which we are sorry about, Hadi told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat. The drone programme has come under criticism from human rights activists concerned over civilian casualties. The United Nations said 16 civilians were killed and at least 10 wounded when two separate wedding processions were targeted in December. The victims had been mistakenly identified as Al-Qaeda members, it quoted local security officials
as saying at the time. Following the deaths, Yemens parliament voted for a ban on drone strikes, but analysts say lawmakers are unlikely to be able to halt the US campaign. The US has defended the drone campaign, which allows it to target Al-Qaeda without the use of ground forces in lawless areas where authorities cannot or will not act against the group. Militants regularly attack security forces from hideouts in the mountainous terrain of Baida. On Tuesday, Qaeda suspects shot dead the provinces vice governor and an intelligence officer. Tribal ources in the region claim a recent video of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula chief Nasser al-Wuhayshi welcoming 19 militants who escaped a Sanaa prison was filmed between Shabwa and Baida. Addressing scores of jihadists in the rare video appearance, Wuhayshi pledged to pursue the war against Western crusaders everywhere possible. In the February jailbreak, AQAP militants slammed a car bomb into the eastern gate of a Sanaa prison as others attacked the guards at its main entrance. The attack allowed 29 inmates to escape, including the 19 jihadists. Yemen is the ancestral home of Osama bin Laden and the home base of AQAP, which has been linked to a number of failed attacks on the US homeland. l
In September 2001, as the US reeled from the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon, Vladimir Putin supported Washingtons imminent invasion of Afghanistan in ways that would have been inconceivable during the Cold War. The sequence of events early in Washingtons relationship with Putin reflects a dynamic that has persisted through the ensuing 14 years and the current crisis in Ukraine: US actions, some intentional and some not, sparking an overreaction from an aggrieved Putin. As Russia masses tens of thousands of troops along the Russian-Ukrainian border, Putin is thwarting what the Kremlin says is an American plot to surround Russia with hostile neighbours. Experts said he is also promoting Putinism as a global alternative to Western democracy.
who served as the US ambassador to Moscow in the late 1990s. The bilateral relationship was seen as not a big deal. Officials from the administrations of Presidents Bush and Barack Obama said American officials initially overestimated their potential areas of cooperation with Putin. Then, through a combination of overconfidence, inattention and occasional clumsiness, Washington contributed to a deep spiral in relations with Moscow.
Common cause
Its also a dynamic that some current and former US officials said reflects an American failure to recognize that while the Soviet Union is gone as an ideological enemy, Russia has remained a major power that demands the same level of foreign policy attention as China and other large nations - a relationship that should not just be a means to other ends, but an end in itself. I just dont think we were really paying attention, said James F. Collins,
Bush and Putins post-2001 camaraderie foundered on a core dispute: Russias relationship with its neighbours. In November 2002, Bush backed Natos invitation to seven nations - including former Soviet republics Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - to begin talks to join the Western alliance. In 2004, with Bush as a driving force, the seven Eastern European nations joined Nato. Putin and other Russian officials denounced the move.
Another core dispute between Bush and Putin related to democracy. What Bush and other American officials saw as democracy spreading across the former Soviet bloc, Putin saw as pro-American regime change. Putin was deeply sceptical of US efforts to nurture democracy in the former Soviet bloc, where the State Department and American nonprofit groups pro-
have declared an independent republic and demanded a referendum on autonomy, 38.4 percent said they backed Kremlin demands to federalise Ukraine and 41 percent said they wanted a decentralisation of power. Inhabitants in the east remain highly suspicious of Kievs interim authorities, who took over from pro-Moscow president Viktor Yanukovych after his ouster in February following months of bloody protests. Some 74 percent of respondents said they consider acting President Oleksandr Turchynov to be illegitimate, the poll said. Russia, which Nato says has some 40,000 troops on the border, has said it has the right to intervene militarily in Ukraine to protect Russian speakers and has denied Western allegations that it is behind the separatist unrest. But 57.2 percent of those polled in Donetsk said they felt their rights have not been violated and 66.3 percent said they were against a Russian military intervention. l street demonstrations after disputed Russian parliamentary elections. Putin said Clinton had encouraged mercenary Kremlin foes. And he claimed that foreign governments had provided hundreds of millions of dollars to Russian opposition groups. l
vided training and funds to local civil-society groups. In public speeches, he accused the US of meddling.
A vaporized relationship
A temporary deal to curb the nuclear programme in exchange for limited sanctions relief took effect January 20 when Iran started eliminating highly enriched uranium
Funds to be unblocked Frozen assets released under sanctions relief Installment schedule Feb 1
$550 million
March 1
Bushehr 1,000 MWe pressurised water reactor went online September 2011
TEHRAN Main nuclear research center Parchin Military base Fordo Allow daily inspections by IAEA Sagand experts Ardakan Yellowcake production plant Gashin
$450 million
Payment for dilution of half of stock of 20% enriched uranium to 5% Mar 7
$550 million
Apr 10
$550 million
Apr 15
$450 million
Payment for 2nd half dilution May 14
Uranium enrichment Nuclear energy is produced from U235, which makes up just 0.7% of natural uranium, the rest being U238 Enrichment increases the proportion of U235 by separating it from U238 Civil use U235 proportion increased to 5% Under the deal Iran will limit enrichment to 5% and neutralise its stockpile of uranium enriched to 20% Military use U235 proportion increased to 90%
$550 million
Jun 17
$550 million
Jul 20
$550 million
Sources: IAEA/NTI/ISIS
A wreath hangs above a portrait of Gabriel Garca Mrquez in front of a museum converted from the house he grew up in
REUTERS
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
President Park Geun-hye was jeered by some when she visited on Thursday. Park Geun-hye should come here again, Kang Hyucks mother said. Three cranes were moved close to the sunken ship yesterday but were not deployed. Strong tides and rough weather
Please lift the ship, so we can get the bodies out, a woman who identified herself as the mother of a child called Kang Hyuck said, using a microphone. Relatives have criticized what they say is the slow response of the government and contradictory information given out by authorities in the early stages of the rescue mission.
the ship in the evening. The chances of finding anyone alive now are almost zero, said Bruce Reid, Chief Executive Officer of the International Maritime Rescue Foundation. There will still be a search operation on the water, a surface search, but it would be more of a recovery exercise now. Theyll be looking for bodies. The capsize occurred in calm weather on a well-travelled 400 km (300 mile) sea route from Incheon to Jeju some 25 km (15 miles) from land. Lee, the ships captain, was described by officials from Chonghaejin Marine Co Ltd, the owner of the vessel, as a veteran. I had ordered (passengers) to leave the ferry, but (later) I said to them to stay because there was no rescue ship, he told South Korean television as he was led away by police. Police also raided Chonghaejin offices in Incheon and Yang Joong-jin, a prosecutor in the city of Mokpo, said ten people were being questioned over the loading and stowing of the Sewols cargo. Yonhap news agency said 180 vehicles were onboard the ferry along with 1,157 tons of freight. At least some of the freight was in containers stacked on the foredeck. The vice-principal of the school, Kang Min-gyu, 52, was one of those rescued as the children followed orders and stayed aboard. He hanged himself outside the gym in Jindo, police said. His body was discovered on Friday and police released part of a two-page suicide note. Burn my body and scatter my ashes at the site of the sunken ferry, he wrote. Perhaps I can become a teacher for the missing students in my next life. l
Children write their letters of hope for missing schoolchildren trapped in the capsized South Korean ferry, at Ansan Jungang station in Ansan AFP
Relatives of a Mount Everest avalanche victim grieve as bodies arrive at the Sherpa Monastery in Kathmandu AFP
Reuters, Kathmandu
Sherpa climbers aided by helicopters resumed a search yesterday for four missing guides after an ice avalanche swept the lower slopes of Mount Everest, killing at least 12 in the deadliest accident on the worlds highest mountain. Climbers declared a four-day halt to efforts to scale the 8,848-metre (29,029-ft) summit and, while some decided to abandon their mission, others said they would go ahead after talking to their Nepali guides. I sat and counted 13 helicopter lifts - 12 were dead bodies flying overhead suspended by a long line from a helicopter, Tim Rippel of Peak Freaks Expeditions wrote in a blog.
Everyone is shaken here at Base Camp. Some climbers are packing up and calling it quits, they want nothing to do with this. Reality has set in. Shocked relatives wondered how they would cope without the men who take huge risks to earn up to $5,000 for a two-month expedition - around 10 times average annual pay in the isolated mountain kingdom. He was the only bread winner in the family, said 17-year-old Phinjum Sherpa, as she waited for the body of her uncle, Tenji Sherpa, at a Buddhist monastery in Kathmandu. I am shaken now the family has no one to support it. We have no one to take care of us. The ice avalanche struck a peril-
Underwater jet search Obama to bolster US rebalance to Asia could end within a week n
AFP, Washington Maritime dispute headache
n Reuters, Sydney
The current underwater search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, focused on a tight 10 km (6.2 mile) circle of the sea floor, could be completed within a week, Australian search officials said yesterday. Malaysia said the search was at a very critical juncture and asked for prayers for its success. A US Navy deep-sea autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) is scouring a remote stretch of the Indian Ocean floor for signs of the plane, which disappeared from radars on March 8 with 239 people on board. After almost two months without a sign of wreckage, the current underwater search has been narrowed to a small area around the location in which one of four acoustic signals believed to be from the planes black box recorders was detected on April 8, officials said. Provided the weather is favourable
for launch and recovery of the AUV and we have a good run with the serviceability of the AUV, we should complete the search of the focused underwater area in five to seven days, the Joint Agency Coordination Centre told Reuters in an email. Officials did not indicate whether they were confident that this search area would yield any new information about the flight, nor did they state what steps they would take in the event that the underwater search were to prove fruitless. More than two dozen countries have been involved in the hunt for the Boeing 777 disappeared from radar shortly into a Kuala Lumpur to Beijing flight in what officials believe was a deliberate act. Weeks of daily sorties have failed to turn up any trace of the plane, even after narrowing the search to an arc in the southern Indian Ocean, making this the most expensive such operation in aviation history. l
President Barack Obama will use an Asian tour beginning next week to bolster US alliances in the region at a time of increased geopolitical tension. Obama is scheduled to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, and will be under duress to address maritime territorial disputes between US allies and China. Aides said Friday that the president would restate staunch US support for its friends, underline its role as a Pacific power, and seek to reassure the region that his Asia rebalancing strategy is not running out of steam. Obama will also attempt to make progress in dragged out negotiations over the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal, and reassure potential partners that he could get it endorsed by a reluctant Congress. Obama is set to travel to Asia on Tuesday, but will certainly remain preoccupied by simmering foreign policy crises elsewhere, especially in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
The presidents trip to Asia is an important opportunity to underscore our continued focus on the Asia-Pacific region, said Obamas national security advisor Susan Rice.
The president will reassure the region that his Asia rebalancing strategy is not running out of steam
At a time of ongoing regional tensions, particularly with regard to North Korea and territorial disputes, the trip offers a chance for the United States to affirm our commitment to a rules-based order in the region. Theres a significant demand for US leadership in that region, and our strategy of rebalancing to Asia includes eco-
nomic, political, security and cultural interests in Northeast and Southeast Asia, she said. Obama would emphasize that Washington wants maritime disputes in the South and East China seas settled peacefully, in accordance with the rule of law, Rice said. Washington does not take a position on the various territorial claims of regional powers, but has in the past angered China by suggesting that these claims should be solved through a multi-lateral process. China, taking advantage of its size and influence, prefers to discuss the maritime rows in a bilateral fashion with individual nations. Obamas trip will be his first to the region since Beijing declared an Air Defense Zone in the South China Sea last year, which Washington branded as illegitimate.
The president begins his fifth official trip to Asia when he lands in Japan for a state visit on Wednesday, and has
a private dinner with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The next day, after an official arrival ceremony at the Imperial Palace and then formal talks, he will hold a press conference with Abe. After several engagements during the day, including a meeting with business leaders, Obama will attend a state dinner hosted by Emperor Akihito. Senior US officials said Friday, speaking on condition of anonymity, that both Japanese and US trade officials were working to narrow gaps on market access in the auto and agricultural sectors that have slowed wider TPP talks. They declined to put a timetable on the talks, but the rest of the region will be looking to Obama and Abe to at least demonstrate concrete progress in the discussions in Tokyo. In Seoul, Obama will hold talks with South Korean President Park GeunHye that focus on North Koreas belligerence. The US president will also attempt to ease tensions between Seoul and Tokyo. l
10
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
Shakib Al Hasan
A doctrine misunderstood
he governments draft Online Media Operation Policy contains many disastrously bad ideas, which will do nothing to aid the free and smooth functioning of the media. It has been drafted with excessive measures which can only serve to thwart online media and reflects an outdated and unrealistic bureaucratic mindset. Proposed provisions range from the onerous a Tk5 lakh license fee to the mercenary 2% of advertising revenue going to the government to the downright impractical and ridiculous sites on the internet not being supposed to link to other sites. According to the draft, online operators will also only be able to publish advertisements for only 20% of their total content. While we are not opposed to the concept of regulatory mechanisms, the proposals outlined in this draft policy are extreme and counterproductive. Even existing online-based news agencies and portals will be required to get licenses under the new mandate. Furthermore, license holders will have to get BTRC approval in order to run not only online portals, news agencies, and web-based newspapers, but also personal websites. The governments attempt to clamp down on personal sites is particularly objectionable. This merely opens up the possibility of tyrannical and despotic moves on the governments part. If implemented, the draft measures can only hurt the government by making it look autocratic, as they are an affront to freedom of speech and expression. We call on the government to take a more sober view and rule out all measures which undermine freedom of expression.
April 17 Dear editor, This is in response to your op-ed piece, In Defence of Shakib Al Hasan. In your proxy apology for the all-rounder, you have conveniently forgotten the role of Bangladeshi supporters in gaining test status and our increased presence in world cricket. The reason Shakib gets to bask in glory that even the most famous Bangladeshi would be jealous of is us, Bangladeshi supporters. In 2000, when ICC handed us test status, it was not because we had been consistently punching above our weight, or had the cricketing domestic infrastructure that augured a bright future. It was because of the intensely passionate fanbase in the country which ensured sustainability to the game that ICC was actually scared of losing when the game had reached a global plateau. While other countries had to earn their stripes, we supporters shouted ourselves hoarse to elevate our team to where it stands. So the next time Shakib or his apologists try to pass on the buck, could we all please remind them that the Bangladesh cricket teams raison detre, those people who make it possible for Shakibs colleagues to have a job in the international arena in the first place, is plebs like us? Is it ok for him if we have a say in what we wrought, however irrationally exuberant it sounds? Faruq Hasan
April 11 An excellent article indeed. Forced protective custodianship is not only dangerous in the realm of foreign relations, but also equally dangerous for any relationship, be it personal or organisational. Examples are aplenty. Gonojagoron Moncho in its initial stage reveled, having the protection of the student league as well as the ruling government, a sort of protective custodianship. But now the original organisers of the moncho are experiencing the bitter lesson of the ultimate result of this protection. nds
voting systems to be advocated. They also scrapped the upazila elections during their governance. He cant attack corruption either, since corruption was always at an all-time high when the BNP was in power. According to data from Transparency International, GDP was always at an all-time low at 4%, and never rose, since much of the money was allegedly taken out of the country and invested in offshore accounts. Inflation was always at its highest each time the BNP came into power, based on data from the WB and the IMF. Load-shedding too was at its highest during their government, so he cannot refute these arguments that you have mentioned. Guest 123: I am not sure the failure of BNP regime can be construed as a defence for AL. We might be surpassing India, but we have a long way to go. We have 1 doctor for every 1700 citizens. The large portion of the rural population is still devoid of true medical assistance. Literacy rates have increased, but the quality of education has not. The ACC, EC, and even judiciary are far from running without the ruling partys influence. The point is, Tarique needs to grow as a statesman.
April 12 Bangladesh is already one of the least developed countries in the world; the last thing it needs is religious fundamentalism. People need to realise that people like this have no place in modern society. 1nzi
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PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Dry, of champagne (3) 3 Spoken (4) 6 Stopper (4) 7 Fabled monstrous bird (3) 9 Therefore (4) 10 Floor covering (3) 11 Utter wildly (4) 13 Dodge (5) 16 Silly (5) 18 Look slyly (4) 19 Ships record (3) 20 Part of the eye (4) 21 Bath (3) 23 Measure of length (4) 24 Facial feature (4) 25 Present (3) DOWN 1 Swelling wave (5) 2 Self (3) 4 Uncommon (4) 5 Zodiac sign (3) 6 Money bag (5) 8 Bird (5) 9 Level (4) 12 Make suitable (5) 14 Contends in rivalry (4) 15 Power (5) 17 Joint (5) 18 Farm animals (4) 20 Tavern (3) 22 Flying Saucer (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.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
In style
N
n Mahmood Hossain
ever, ever, ever wear anything you are uncomfortable in. Because that is what youll project: I look like a fool, said Tom Ford. The morning staring sessions in front of the vanity mirror, the art of makeup applied in the most meticulous manner, the magnificent lot of dresses hung for anyone to view with pleasure, accessories galore and overpriced pieces all of this means nothing unless you are completely and full-heartedly comfortable in your own skin. There is undoubtedly a huge misconception when it comes to fashion and style. Lets first state an obvious fact: We, as Bangladeshis, have never been known to be fashion-forward. But this isnt about fashion itself. This is about the lack of thought and effort that goes into improving our image style. The general public sees something fashionable to be expensive, lavish, and are left with their jaws dropping because they could never imagine donning something so elegant. Before all the pricey items and the endless grooming sessions, there is the individual. Everyone has a set of characteristics. Some are similar while others are vastly different, but never exactly the same. Individuality in this country is a rare find. The majority, however, play a familiar role in the stage that is a masquerade. Surely, wed put Carnevale in Venice to shame. Weve become too worrisome living on the expectations of others. Presenting a faade is now a lifelong obligation. We now live in a world of a more sophisticated audience. As much as we want to act a fool on certain days, we wish to remain as professional as possible. The best example of that is at a high-profile job or a significant event. What you are wearing is the telltale sign of how you are feeling the mood changes with the outfits. Again, its what lies beneath. How you feel is how you will dress. The moment you decide to genuinely give an effort to look better, you start feeling better. This satisfaction should fall on you as this isnt completely focused on aesthetics. individuals to cook up a recipe of your own. Emptying our pockets is unnecessary those designer tags we can do without. We lack the confidence as a nation. Rather than being ourselves, we try too hard to be like others. There should be more pride taken to how we look. No one said wearing Westernised clothing would deem you as popular or stylish. Tradition shouldnt be swept aside over the belief that foreign is always better. However, there is a perfect balance set by the men and women in our society, albeit a very tiny portion, who pull off the fusion quite well. This is a sign of hope a sign of progress.
A movement hijacked?
NASHIRUL ISLAM
The true essence of style is the most alluring representation of your personality
or Imran H Sarkar, its a lost battle. A formal end to his reign in an invisible empire based in Shahbagh since February 2013 is now in sight. The lacklustre media coverage of splits within Gonojagoron Moncho only succeeds to show the twilight of Sarkars movement. Its high time that both those who supported and opposed the Shahbagh protest rallies that began with the demand for capital punishment for war criminals of 1971, agreed to raise some cogent issues, no matter how unpalatable they may seem. Of course, the ones who had difference of opinion, or those who had no political position on the moncho can speak out without the risk of being bracketed as Razakars or atheists. It is being said that the moncho has lost its relevance to the ruling camp. Jamaat leader Quader Mollah has been executed and the Awami League has returned to power, feeling ensconced and secure at the moment. But what is done is done. Finished! This politics can be summed up by one coinage ad hoc-ism which suits our interests and activities. Many of our unique ideas such as the Gonojagoron Moncho or the platform for mass awakening disappear into political rhetoric devoid of any popular appeal. The AL might not have initiated this platform, but the party hijacked the movement within three days by engaging its A and B teams and also local and foreign friends. Days ago, it had made an entente with Jamaats student-wing Shibir, as reflected in a Motijheel rally. Reversing that position, the AL leaders made a showdown in Gonojagoron Moncho and managed to sideline the opposition BNP from there.
Jatiya Sangsad had amended laws in the middle of the war crimes prosecution, following moncho demand. The AL camp also demonstrated its political hypocrisy. Ministers and senior AL leaders lined up at Shahbagh to express solidarity. The prime minister told parliament that her heart goes out to them (Shahbagh protesters).
ative of the moncho to demand the closure of financial institutions. The Ruposhi Bangla Hotel and flower traders had to incur losses. And the woes of patients in nearby hospitals were secondary. In the face of something so momentous, what is the suffering of a few thousand? The repercussions of such extremist acts was obvious: The rise of the He-
Many of our unique ideas such as the Gonojagoron Moncho or the platform for mass awakening disappear into political rhetoric
Exposing double standards, a few hundred people continued to block Dhaka Citys nerve point of Shahbagh causing the public to suffer for months when the opposition parties were not allowed to hold meetings. There were parallel centres of gravity of power. Sheikh Hasina headed the AL government but the moncho spokesperson who bears Sarkar (literally meaning government) in his name, acted as an alternative authority to order the hoisting of national flags. Even school authorities were asked to send children to Shahbagh. A section of intellectuals termed it the second liberation war, instigating the young blood to behave recklessly. The moncho targeted anyone with a dissenting voice, going to the extent of declaring Bangabir Abdul Kader Siddiqui a Razakar! Hardly anyone dared to question the sources of funding for Sarkar and his comrades, or if it was the prerog-
fazat-e-Islam, the wholesale branding of bloggers present in the Shahbagh demonstration as non-believers, and the eventual depletion plus faltering of the Shahbagh movement. We witnessed some men and women of the rising middle class families, who initially went to Shahbagh to become part of a great demonstration, soon beginning to deny their involvement, lest they were stigmatised or faced cruel jokes. Honestly, you dont hear too many people boast about being part of it anymore. A family friend of ours emerged as a cyber warrior, volunteering to upload moncho news items round the clock when her baby was left almost helpless at home. About her desertion from the movement, her brother said a few months ago, the revolution betrayed. Another friend of mine, who has external orientation, regretted the downfall of the moncho as the death
of a potentially far-reaching social movement. All this prompted me to ask what the expectations were from the Shahbagh movement, other than securing the execution of the convicted war criminals. If it was to be a peoples movement, they should have raised voices against those killing human beings by producing and selling adulterated foods. They neither took a stand against corruption nor did they want jobs for the young and educated. When asked, some enthusiastic participants of the movement could not articulate their dreams and vision, but Sarkar finally did by expressing willingness to float a political party. Some might have assumed that the Shahbagh demonstration would be a reproduction of the Arab Spring that would, in course, change Bangladeshs current political climate. Its now evident that such assumption lacked an understanding of the dynamics of politics. Imran H Sarkar, an ambitious newcomer to Dhaka city, was a good choice for a scapegoat. He was used for others to secure their political seats. Surprisingly, some intelligent people ignored the fallacy of the Shahbagh movement. It was named the platform for mass awakening when that was not the case in reality, nor was there any public awareness. It is puzzling how a mass movement could be backed and sponsored by the establishment. So, the miscarriage of the Gonojagoron Moncho was an inevitable consequence. A reactive initiative followed by a series of questionable, exclusionist, and divisive actions had no scope to end up as a constructive outlet. l Khawaza Main Uddin is Executive Editor at ICE Business Times.
Tradition shouldnt be swept aside over the belief that foreign is always better
The true essence of style is the most alluring representation of your personality. Its through the attitude and efforts of an individual. Those who practise this are influenced by multiple sources. The runway, celebrities, or others who possess an immaculate street style are all wonderful to be inspired by. There is no shame in borrowing certain features from certain
Ultimately, our working middle-class is fooled into thinking Bollywood onset costumes are the must-haves cheap knockoffs of anything is unflattering. Its unfortunate, but its the truth. We educate ourselves in medicine, business, and engineering, yet disregard how we present ourselves to the rest of the world. This is where fashion takes its place; it is where style should become the priority. We should be prepared in all fronts. We deserve better. We can achieve greater things but dont allow ourselves to enrich our lifestyles. We aim for the quick fix and thats what halts the progress. With all due respect to our neighbours, we dont need to imitate them. We live in a country with factories that churn out items for high-street fashion in Europe and all over the world. Its a statement that should be made very clear. Its not a matter of inferiority if we seek not to compete. Our presence simply has to be known. If were able to produce quality through rigorous labour, why not show the rest of the world we are equally stylish. We have the ability to rub elbows with the best, but it depends on how much we really care, and how much effort were willing to put in. Its time to open our minds completely and embrace ourselves. Lets not worry about what others are doing or what they think is acceptable. Its not only about what you are wearing, its how you are wearing it. If youre doing right by you and yours, everything else falls into place. Its not about outdoing any opponent; its about going toe-to-toe with the best and earning respect the respect that comes from conduct (how we behave in society), and how we dress for the occasion. And the secret to all of this to an admirable style is simple. Dont try too hard. l Mahmood Hossain is a Staff Writer at the Dhaka Tribune and a fashion blogger.
ahela Boishakh (or Poila Boishakh) has been carved in our hearts, so Im taking quite a risk to write this note! I believe the wordspahela, dosra, thesra, and such, have been borrowed from Farsi/Urdu. The correct Bangla words for these areprathama, dwitiya, tritiya, etc. The names of the months in the Bangla calendar Bangabda, are based on the names of the lunar mansions (nokkhotro) - locations of the moon with respect to particular stars during the lunar cycle. These names were derived from Shakabda, another calendar of this region that was introduced during the Shaka Dynasty. The dates of these months were referred to asprathama, dwitiya, tritiya, chaturthi, panchami, shashthhi, saptami, ashtami, nabami, dashami, etc. I believe when Emperor Akbar revised the Bengali calendar to synchronise it with the Hijri, the
Farsi/Urdu termspahela, dosra, and such came along. It is very surprising then, that both Ekushey February and Pahela Boishakh, two very important events to Bangalis, are referred to through non-Bangla words! While Ekushey should be referred to as Aat-i Phalgun, the first day of Boishakh should be Prathama Boishakh. Though the adaptation of the foreign word Pahela as Poila has minimised the linguistic sin, it wasnt really necessary as Bangla already has a perfectly good corresponding word. It is not like Akademi, which is used in West Bengal as Calcutta University adapted the English word into their language, much like haspatal is for hospital, because there were no suitable corresponding words. Anyway, I hope I have not poured cold water onto the high spirits of the Bangla New Year. Hope you had a Shubha Prathama Boishakh. l Syed Almas Kabir is a freelance contributor.
Its vision for humanity was of an ethical community of diverse and different individuals
In Cairo, the city founded by this Shii dynasty in 969 CE, was employed a vast administrative service runby Christian and Jewish viziers, Coptic and Jewish officers, and an army staffed by Sunni Turkish as well as Christian commanders. Here, Jews and Christians enjoyed a religious freedom that reflected the modernist tendency of promotion. Muslim Spain known as Andalus was a place whereJews, Christians, and Muslims lived cooperatively, in a time of Jewish persecution in Eu-
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
Recent projects
Now I am working on a political plot based film titled Leader. I am playing the role of a politician in the film. Another project is going on titled Tarkata directed by M M kamal Raz. My upcoming film Ek Cup Cha will hit the cinemas soon.
How did you manage to keep up while most of your contemporary heroines have faded away?
From the director of my first film to all the directors I have worked till now, I am grateful to them for my present position. From shooting crews to co-artistsI am grateful to everyone. I am thankful to my father, my husband Omar Sunny, and the rest of my family members. But my audiences deserve my utmost thankfulness. Without their love and acceptance, I would not be who I am.
Honestly, I never considered anyone as my competition. I always think about myself. I believe that my work will fix my position. May be I have worked in something that has touched mass audiences heart. This is the biggest achievement of my life. I dont want to think like this. I want to live with the love of my audience, and through my works.
Audience's love has kept me young. I can't believe that I have already spent such a long period in the industry. I still get the same response as I used to get in the early stage of my career. In between, the difference is just that I have lost some of my beloved colleagues.
To protect child right, I am working as ambassador of UNICEF. I am working along with Jewel Aich, and cricketer Shakib Al Hasan. My goal is to protect and promote child rights for a developed country and change the society and its norms.
I am occupied with a few projects. So I am going through a very busy time. I will start working on this project after finishing my current engagements. Last time, my film got three national awards in different categories, this time I am targeting more awards. l
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Exile in Calcutta by Thomas Meyer Time: 3pm 8pm Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15/A (New), Dhanmondi Serenading Suchitra Time: 12pm 8pm Shilpangan Gallery House-7, Road-13, Dhanmondi Last Summer by Iffat Ara Dewan Time: 12pm 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan Avenue Freezing Moments Time: 3pm to 8pm Drik Gallery House 58, Road 15/A (New), Dhanmondi Avatar in 3D Frozen in 3D Enders Game Time: 10am 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath
I still feel sad for him. He was my first co-actor of my first film. Its not possible to forget him. Both of us worked together in Qayamat Theke Qayamat, Ontore Ontore, Sneho and Denmohor. Four of our films were successful in cinemas and songs of
Film
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (3D & 2D) Jonakir Alo Boishommo The Legend of Hercules 3D
Festival
Suchitra Sen Film Festival Time: 6pm 9pm National Theatre and Dance Theatre Shilpakala Academy Segunbagicha
A three-day National Ganasangeet Utshob commenced on Friday at the open ground of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Hassan Emily and Jahid Hossain even before the season began. After an unprecedented successful campaign last year, Maruf extended the contract with the club for a payment of Tk 1.8m. Since then Russells performance in two professional tournaments- season opener Federation Cup and the recently concluded Independence Cup, have not been satisfactory as they crashed out from both the tournaments in the quarterfinal. Their poor display has affected them badly in the league too where they sit third with only nine points. These are the reasons which triggered the sacking of Maruful Haque in the middle of the season. Maruf was unreachable though as his phone was found switched off. Sheikh Russell president Nurul Alam Chowdhury confirmed the news of his sacking. We are grateful to Maruful Hauqe for providing the club with the treble last season. But the ongoing season has not been good for us as we have lost the Federation Cup and Independence Cup. We are not in a good position in the league as well, said Nurul Alam yesterday. But what disappointed us most was the performance of the team in the recently concluded Independence Cup. We felt that the team could have done a lot better. Since there is a case for accountability, we have decided to sack the whole coaching staff including the head coach, he added. I want to make it clear that the decision was taken through full professionalism after discussing the matter with the coaches. Maruful Haque took the charge of Sheikh Russell for the second time in 2011-12 season and during his three years time with the club, Maruf once refused Bangladesh Football Federations (BFF) offer to work as an assistant coach of the national team. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
14 Atletico close in
on La Liga title
14 Show me more
Soccer Club, Fenis Nigerian marksman Chuka Charles cannot hold his excitement after scoring the winner against Team BJMC and decides to perform somersault in front of his teammates at the BNS yesterday MUMIT M.
The 46-year-old Montenegrin coach Dragan Djukanovic is set to replace Maruf during the second phase of the Bangladesh Premier League. It was learnt that the new coach had already arrived in Dhaka on Saturday to take charge of the team. Maruful Haque was not the only one to lose his job though; his assistant coach Zulfiqar Ali Mintu as well as the goalkeeping coach was also shown the exit door. After winning three silverwares to complete treble last year, Sheikh Russells performance graph has gone down drastically this season which saw them lose some key players like Sony Norde, Mamunul Islam, Zahid
Barisals Sohag Gazi plays a shot during their National Cricket League match against Rangpur at Fatullahs outer stadium yesterday
Chittagong v Sylhet
Barisal v Rangpur
At stumps, Dhaka are trailing by 168 runs with nine intact wickets in their first innings at Coxs Bazars Sheikh Ka-
Riding on a flashy innings by Sohag Gazi, Barisal posted a fighting score in their first innings against Rangpur at the outer field of Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. Barisal were put into bat first and they and could manage 289 runs at the cost of all wickets. Losing 3 early wickets for just 26 funs actually contributed
At Chittagongs Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Rajshahi ended the day with a 13 run lead against Dhaka Metro. Rajshahi won the toss and sent Metro to bat first. And Mushfiqs decision was justified by his bowlers as Delwar Hossains five-wicket haul demolished Metro for only 126 runs. Marshal Ayubs 30 runs was the highest in Metros innings. In reply, Rajshahi also had to suffer from their own batting misery
At the end of day one, Sylhet were trailing by 138 runs against Chittagong at BKSP. Chittagong batted first after losing the toss and scored 213 runs for the cost of all wickets. Abdullah Al Mamuns 40 and Yasir Alis 27 had propelled Chittagong to a steady 79 for 1 before a dramatic flurry of wickets in short intervals pushed the side into discomfort zone with the score reeling at 95 for 6. The dismissal of Mominul Haque (35) on 188 runs called for more trouble for the side and it was Mohammed Saifuddins unbeaten knock of 64 runs which eventually saved Chittagongs day from getting worse. Enamul Haque Jr. and Ahmed Sadiqur picked up three wickets each for Sylhet. Sylhet were 75 for three at stumps. Skipper Alok Kapali was out for 28 runs. Night watchman Enamul was unbeaten on 15 with Rajin Saleh on 3. l
Sylhet v Chittagong
Chittagong (1st innings) 213 allout in 56.4 overs (Saifuddin 64*, Mamun 40, Enamul jr 3/68, Sadiqur 3/34) Sylhet (1st innings): 75/3 in 33 overs (Alok 28, Enamul m15*, Younus 1/3) Sylhet trail by 138 runs
14
West Ham striker dies of cancer
West Ham United striker Dylan Tombides has died following a three-year battle with testicular cancer, the Premier League club said on Friday. The 20-year-old Australian, who made his first-team debut in a League Cup match against Wigan Athletic in 2012, was diagnosed with the illness in 2011. Dylan was respected by everyone who knew him for his intelligent views on the game and his larger than life character, the club said in a statement on their website. Tombides, who joined West Ham as a 15-year-old, played for Australia at Under-17 and Under-23 level. AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
FIXTURES
Aston Villa Everton Hull City Norwich City v v v v Southampton Man Utd Arsenal Liverpool
Uniteds own Champions League hopes have been all but extinguished as they lie 10 points below the top four, but manager David Moyes will be desperate to avoid embarrassment on his return to his former club. Weve not lost so many games in the last months, so there is no reason for us to feel deflated, said Everton left-back Leighton Baines. We were on a run of good wins. To lose one game doesnt take anything away from the way weve been playing and weve just got to get back on track as quickly as possible.l
Elche goalkeeper Manu Herrera vies with Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa during their Spanish league match at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on Friday AFP
Injury wont keep me from Atletico close in on La Liga title World Cup: Neymar
Brazilian football star Neymar said Friday he would be well enough to play in the World Cup in June despite a foot injury that could force him to miss the rest of the club season. FC Barcelona said Thursday he would be benched for four weeks and could miss the rest of the club season. With less than two months to go, Neymar however promised to be healthy on time to play in the World Cup. I always had a bit of fear that the injury would force me to stay out of the World Cup, Neymar told. But within the next three weeks Ill be back and I hope to play Barcelonas last game, he said. Brazil coach Felipe Scolari plans for Neymar to lead his countrys hopes for a sixth World Cup title on home soil in June. In the meantime Neymar will stay in shape by exercising with weights and in the pool, the medical department of Brazils national team said after talking with Barcelona. Its horrible to be out, without training, without playing, and to see your comrades playing and training, he told Globo. Neymar will be the secondyoungest player to wear the number ten shirt for the Selecao at a World Cup.l Atletico Madrid took another step towards their first La Liga title for 18 years as two goals in the last 20 minutes handed them a 2-0 win over Elche at the Vicente Calderon on Friday. After a poor opening period from the hosts, they wasted a great chance to go in front 10 minutes after the break as David Villas penalty was saved by Manu Herrera. The league leaders did eventually make the breakthrough 19 minutes from time when Miranda headed home Jose Sosas cross and Diego Costa converted a second Atletico penalty of the night late on after Christian Sapunaru was sent-off for Elche. Victory moves Atletico six points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table and within three wins of sealing the title. Los Rojiblancos attention now turns to facing Chelsea in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday.
RESULT
Atletico
Miranda 71, Costa 90+1 P
2 0
Elche
The players put in a great effort and now we have to recover as best we can for the game on Tuesday, said Atletico boss Diego Simeone. It is a very important game for the
club, the fans and the history of Atletico Madrid. In contrast to their recent displays at home, Atletico were very slow out of the blocks and didnt really get going until Raul Garcia replaced Adrian Lopez at half-time. Garcia made an instant impact as he was dragged down inside the area by Sapunaru. David Villa assumed the penalty taking duties after Costa had missed against Getafe last week, however the Spanish international was also denied as Manu Herrera sprung to his left to turn the ball behind. Villa then had a goal rightly ruled out for offside and Garcia headed just over as the pressure began to build from Atletico.l
FIXTURES
Monaco SC Bastia Bordeaux Lorient Reims Valenciennes Marseille v v v v v v v Nice AC Ajaccio Guingamp Montpellier Sochaux Nantes Lille
A Colombia football fan Suzana poses after picking up her 2014 World Cup tickets in Rio de Janeiro yesterday REUTERS
However, the Italian, who became known as the Tinkerman during his time in charge of Chelsea a decade ago, deserves some credit for taking Mona-
co into second place in the table with only five games left and he remained bullish as to his future when he faced the press on Friday. Lille travel to Marseille on Sunday evening looking to extend a 10-game unbeaten run as they try to secure a podium finish and keep the pressure on Monaco. The game is also important for Marseille, who are sixth but can move level on points with Lyon as they try to snatch European qualification themselves. At the bottom of the table, Ajaccio cross Corsica for the derby against Bastia knowing they have to win to stand any chance of further postponing their inevitable relegation. l
African history-maker Show me more respect, blasts Toure Appou eyes world record
Oldest Int'l Goalscorer
Mauritian Kersley Appou could become the oldest international goalscorer Sunday just seven days after creating African football history. The striker overtook Cameroon legend Roger Milla last weekend as the oldest African international by playing in a 1-0 loss against Mauritania aged 43 years and 354 days. And if Appou finds the net in the second leg of a 2015 Cup of Nations qualifier, he will replace Singapore striker Aleksandar Duric as the oldest international scorer. Serbia-born Duric was on target against Malaysia during 2012 aged 42 years and 105 days, according to soccer statistics foundation RSSSF. l
1 2 3 4 5
Aleksandar Duric Singapore 42 yrs 105 days Malaysia Roger Milla Cameroon 42 yrs 39 days Russia Stanley Matthews England 41 yrs 248 days Northern Ireland Kalusha Bwalya Zambia 41 yrs 19 days Liberia Fung King-Cheung Hong Kong 40 yrs 100 days South Vietnam
Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure insists he doesnt get enough respect from the rest of the football world because he is African. Ivory Coast international Toure has won league titles in England and Spain and is on the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers Associations player of the season award. But the 30-year-old former Barcelona star echoed City teammate Samir Nasris claim that only his birthplace has blocked him from being hailed as one of the best midfielders in the world. I think what Samir was saying was definitely true, Toure told BBC Sport. To be honest, proper recognition has only come from the fans. I dont want to be hard and I dont want to be
Didier Drogba and Cameroon striker Samuel Etoo have also reached the top level of European football and Toure has taken inspiration from the way they have risen to the top despite humble beginnings. Those players are more than legends for me and Africa, he said. I am very proud to be African, I want to defend African people and I want to show to the world that African players can be as good as the Europeans and South Americans. Luis Suarez is a widespread oddson favourite for the PFA award, with Liverpool team-mate Steven Gerrard and Chelseas Eden Hazard also ahead of Toure in the betting. But the City star said he would definitely be unhappy to miss out, adding: As a champion, as a winner, I always want to win. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
England go back to the future with Moores
Peter Moores has been given a second chance as England head coach, after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced his appointment on Saturday. The 51-year-old, the first man to twice be appointed England coach, replaced Andy Flower after he stood down following the teams 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia. In a two-year spell from 2007 to 2009, Moores led England in seven Test series, starting with a 3-0 win over West Indies, after replacing Duncan Fletcher. However, he was forced out in 2009 following a rift with Kevin Pietersen that cost the star batsman the England captaincy, although the ECB ended Pietersens international career after the recent Ashes debacle. Moores recall means there is no longer a position in the hierarchy for limited overs coach Ashley Giles after England decided they wanted one man in charge across all three formats. Moores joined Lancashire in February 2009, having previously guided Sussex to the County Championship title in 2003. l
QUICK BYTES
Shakib al Hasan of KKR bats during their IPL 7 match against Delhi Daredevils at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai yesterday
AFP
Mumbai 115/9 (20ov) Chahal 2 17, Starc 2 21 Bangalore 116/ 3 (17.3ov) Parthiv 57*, de Villiers 45* Bangalore won by seven wickets Kolkata 166/5 (20 ov) Uthappa 55, Pandey 48, Shakib 30 Delhi 167/6 (19.3ov) Karthik 56, Duminy 52, Agarwal 26 Delhi won by 4 wickets
gave his fellows compact companies with two boundaries and a mighty six. On the other hand, JP Duminy hit
a timely unbeaten 52 after skipper Dinesh Karthik set the foundation with a fighting 56-run knock to earn a four wickets victory for Delhi. Shakib bowled three overs where he conceded 25 runs without getting any wicket. Delhi Daredevils batsmen responded to the challenge well and overhauled the target with three balls to spare. In the first game of the day, Royal Challengers Bangalore humbled defending champions Mumbai Indians by seven wickets. After restricting Mumbai Indians to a modest 115 for nine, RCB cantered to their second successive win in the tournament in 17.3 overs. l
RESULTS
Aston Villa Cardiff
Whittingham 51-pen
0 0 1 1 1 2 3 1
Southampton Stoke
Arnautovic 45 P
Newcastle
Ameobi 23
Swansea
Bony 45, 90 P
Tottenham
Fulham
Jedinak 59 P
Meanwhile, Fulham squandered an opportunity to escape the Premier League relegation zone after going down 3-1 at London rivals Tottenham Hotspur. l
BCL postponed
Bangladesh Cricket League, the franchise based first-class cricket tournament, which was scheduled to resume on April 28 has been postponed. The Bangladesh Cricket Board tournament committee after holding a meeting yesterday came to the decision. Acting secretary of the BCB tournament committee Ziaur Rahman informed the media that the franchises of the tournament has requested for few days of time before going into the game. The last round games of the National Cricket League will finish on April 22 for which the franchises of the BCL requested for some time for the players to rest and regroup, said Zia yesterday. The two third round matches of the BCL will be played on May 2 instead of April 28 at the inner and the other ground of Fatullahs Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium. The final, which will be a five-day game, will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on May 9 instead of May 4. The Sri Lanka series followed by the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 for both men and women meant the BCL had to take the back seat temporarily. The BCB suspended the last round along with the final of the tournament after January 18 of this year. In the third round matches, Islami Bank East Zone will be facing Prime Bank South Zone at Fatullah Outer Stadium while defending champion Walton Central Zone will be playing against BCB North Zone. Walton Central Zone are leading the points table with 31 points from two matches with a win and a draw. BCB North Zone is in second position after playing as many matches with a solitary point separating them from the table toppers. Prime Bank South Zone is in third position with 17 points while Islami Bank East Zone remains at the bottom with no win and two points. l
4 2 3 1
Mainz 05
Okazaki 14, 54
Hoffenheim
Volland 3
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA Play Off 2013 14 5:00AM Atlanta v Indiana 7:30AM Memphis v Oklahoma City Ten Golf 9:00AM Malaysian open Day 4 Star Sports 4 12:45PM UBS Chinese Grand Prix Main Race English Premier League 5:00PM Norwich City v Liverpool 7:00PM Hull City v Arsenal 9:00PM Everton v Man United 1:00AM La Liga Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao Star Sports2 La Liga 9:00PM Rayo Vallecano v Real Betis 11:00PM Sevilla v Granada Star Sports 1 4:00PM La Liga UD Almeria v Celta Vigo
Freiburg
Mehmedi 51, 87, Sorg 71, Darida 72, 1
4 1 0 0 0 2
Gladbach
Herrmann 9
Augsburg Eintracht
minutes to breach the Braunschweig defence with the hosts battling to preserve their top-flight status. l
RESULTS
AC Milan Atalanta
Denis 87
3 0 1 2 2 1
Livorno Verona
Donati 53, Toni 72
Sampdoria
Okaka 61
0 1 1 2 3 3
Sassuolo
Berardi 40
Cagliari
Sau 37, Ibarbo 82
Lazio
Torino
Parma Udinese
Fernandes 55
0 2 1 1
Bangladesh Air Force players grab a Bangladesh Fire Service player in the match where they won by 23 21 points in the Walton 14th Premier Division Kabaddi League at the kabaddi stadium yesterday. In the other matches of the day Dhaka Wanderers beat Manaiknagar Kabaddi Club by 40 21 points and Bangladesh Navy outplayed Shahid Mozaffar Smriti Sangsad 58 16 points
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
mealybug, giant mealybug or monophlebids. The report said giant mealybugs lay purple-coloured eggs in loose soil within a 2-3m radius around the infested trees. Hatching of eggs starts with a rise in temperature and the nymphs crawl to the succulent shoots and base of fruiting parts. The nymphs and female bugs suck sap from inflorescence, tender leaves, shoots and fruit peduncles. As a result, the affected inflorescences dry up. Rigorous infestation affects the fruit set and causes fruit drop. They exude honey dew over the leaves, on which sooty mould fungus develop. Mealybug is difficult to control by insecticides and the use of chemicals has been inefficient. Sticky bands along with burning and burying treatments significantly reduced the frequency of infestation of mango mealybug. Burlap bands reduced population of mango mealybug nymphs by 78.98%. Stem injection can achieve a very high level of mortality of sucking insects [98%]. The mortality rates achieved with insecticide sprays were up to 55%, said the report. They occur in all zoogeographic re-
A cleaner tries to sweep away a mass infestation of mealybugs from a classroom of Home Economics College in the capitals Azimpur yesterday gions but seem to be most diverse in tropical areas especially oriental regions. It can be found in India, Pakistan, Mayanmar, China, and the African countries. The report suspects that the bugs travelled to Bangladesh from the African countries. Prof Razzab told the Dhaka Tribune that the pests might have travelled along with the baggage of the Bangladeshi soldiers returning from UN peacekeeping missions. He suspected that there had not been enough checking and quarantining arrangements at the airport for baggage, vehicles and other items brought back by the returning peacekeepers. Recently, the mealybugs were found at a naval base in the country. Razzab said the authorities or departments concerned should pay great attention about the spread, bio-ecology, the nature of damage, economic importance and control measures for the giant mealybugs. He also recommended intensive re-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
search to emphasise the control of the pest. Nishat Parvin, vice-principal of the College of Home Economics, told the Dhaka Tribune the campus would reopen on April 27. The decision has been taken in consultation with experts. They have prescribed some pesticides to get rid of the insects, she said. l
The situation is at its worst this year as the river in its Bangladesh portion has received only 409, 500 and 550 cusecs of water respectively in three consecutive months
A commuter, Monika Roy, who lives in Shindur Na Char, vented her anguish. She said she had to walk the six-kilometre-long way from her home to her workplace Hatibandha daily in absence of boat. It is not only physical suffering to walk the whole distance under the scorching heat, but also time consuming, she added. The residents living in Haldibari, Noyarhat, volarhat, Kaliganj, Shindur Na Char, Shinghibari, Goddibari Dawabari, Votmari and even in different upazilas of Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari districts used the river stations to transport themselves from across the districts. A student Ashis Roy said nowadays people of Joldhaka located on the west bank of Teesta in Nilphamari district
Once a busy place, the Parulia ghat of Hatibadha upazila in Lalmonirhat on the bank of River Teesta now exists in history only
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093 94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
A man at the Malaysian stall at Dhaka Travel Mart 2014 showing the visitors how to prepare tea in a Malaysian style. The three-day international tourism fair concluded yesterday at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka DHAKA TRIBUNE
interested visitors and the fair does not fall short of doing so. The fair overwhelmingly met our expectation as Malindo Air got near to a hundred ticket bookings, said Mizan Rodzi, a deputy director of Tourism Malaysia. We have come to the fair with only one discounted product but we have already generated close to 50% of the products yearly sales, said GM Saklayen Selim, a marketing executive of Tune Aviation Ltd, a Bangladesh GSA for Malindo Air. Bangladesh Biman Airlines, being a partner of the fair, has also given a special and exclusive discount only for the participants, said an official at its stall. l
B2
Stocks stay flat with volatile trade past week
n
Tribune Report
Stocks stayed flat in volatile trade in the past week, following a rally in the previous week, as investors opted for quick profits. Some multinational companies, including Lafarge Surma Cement and Grameenphone and state-owned energy companies, particularly Meghna Petroleum, Padma Oil and Jamuna Oil have attracted investors attention ahead of their disclosures. During the week that ended Thursday, the benchmark DSEX shed marginally 6 points or 0.2% to close at 4,599. The blue chip comprising index DS30 gained 27 points or 1.7% to 1,703. The DSE Shariah Index, DSES, rose 15 points or 1.8% to 1,034. Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE)s Selective Categories Index (CSCX) lost 32 points or 0.4% to 8,868. The weeks average daily turnover stood at Tk436 crore, registering a fall of more than 14% over the previous week that saw four trading sessions instead of usual five on account of public holiday on April 14 to celebrate Bangla New Year. The first trading sessions also lost 42 minutes trading time due to technical glitch. Market ended the week flat as it had been trading within a range of 90 points (4,560 to 4,650) for the last two weeks, said Lanka Bangla Securities. This seems to be a consolidating period for market, it said, adding the way the market breaks out, this range will give an indication of next market direction. It said DSE executed T+2 trading cycle which is expected to increase market liquidity.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 21.10 9.78 8.71 7.73 7.33 6.88 6.63 6.47 6.29 6.02
Mimicking last few weeks psychological trend, investors preference was mostly centralised to heavy-weight scrips, especially multinational companies, last week, said IDLC Investments. It said the sequential and active dominance from large caps prolonged the whole weeks momentum. Other cap classes faced significant correction, however, and those neutralised each other and showcased prime index to behave mixed, it said. A segment of witty participants booked profit off and on from this bullrun of large caps and cyclical movements of smaller cap classes, it said. Losers outshined gainers as out of 299 issues traded during the week, 214 declined, 70 advanced and 15 remained unchanged on the DSE. Among the major sectors, top gaining sectors of the week were cement that rallied 11%, fuel and power 4% and tannery 4.7%. Conversely, top losing sectors were ceramic that declined more than 5%, non-banking financial institutions over 3% and general insurance 2%. Telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, food and allied edged down. The investors attention was mainly centred on fuel and power, cement and telecommunication sectors, accounted for over 19%, 13% and 10% respectively of the past weeks total market turnover. Meghna Petroleum, a state-owned petroleum distribution company, continued to dominate the top turnover for the second consecutive week. Its shares worth Tk139 crore was changed hands in the past week. l
LafargeS Cement-Z Meghna Petroleum -A Eastern Lubricants -A Delta Life Insu. -A Northern Jute -Z Olympic Ind. -A Titas Gas TDCLA Desh Garments -B GlaxoSK (BD) -A GreenDeltaInsu -A CSE GAINERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z LR Global BD MF1 A Northern G Insur-A Meghna Petroleum -A Delta Life Insu. -A Titas Gas TDCLA GreenDeltaInsu -A Eastland Insur -A Phoenix Insur -A Sandhani Life -A
Average (% change) 25.11 9.26 14.88 7.56 7.41 6.28 6.64 7.02 6.49 5.08 Average (% change) 24.61 13.24 9.70 8.71 7.55 6.86 5.51 5.22 10.00 4.45
Closing average 71.64 309.38 616.80 238.32 96.67 239.70 85.46 109.67 1,584.00 83.35
Weekly closing 68.30 310.80 598.00 236.80 96.60 242.50 85.20 107.00 1,581.80 84.50
Weekly high 74.90 315.30 636.00 245.00 99.00 243.50 86.40 114.70 1,623.00 85.00
Weekly low 55.50 259.00 529.90 202.00 92.00 209.50 72.00 91.30 1,480.00 75.00
Turnover in million 1365.576 1395.727 25.141 289.029 0.058 1207.970 349.494 21.148 31.620 24.601
Latest EPS 2.19 22.36 6.02 2.92 -10.24 6.90 8.50 1.18 45.35 3.21
Latest PE 32.7 13.8 102.5 81.6 -ve 34.7 10.1 92.9 34.9 26.0
Closing (% change) 18.56 13.24 9.83 9.59 8.25 6.88 6.38 5.38 4.76 4.52
Closing average 72.50 7.70 37.99 308.76 239.29 85.50 84.41 41.14 44.00 90.06
Weekly closing 69.00 7.70 38.00 310.90 238.70 85.50 85.10 41.10 44.00 90.10
Weekly high 76.10 7.70 38.00 315.00 244.00 86.10 86.00 41.60 44.00 91.00
Weekly low 55.90 7.00 32.00 282.50 201.00 78.50 78.50 38.00 44.00 89.90
Turnover in million 112.427 0.042 0.761 75.643 24.635 13.752 0.833 1.447 2.200 0.162
Latest EPS 2.19 1.52 1.82 22.36 2.92 8.50 3.21 3.71 3.81 2.39
Latest PE 33.1 5.1 20.9 13.8 81.9 10.1 26.3 11.1 11.5 37.7
(+) 0.13% (+) 1.64% (+) 0.08% (+) 1.12% (-) 0.36%
Weekly high 16.00 17.00 28.00 29.30 30.30 6.50 790.50 91.00 58.90 23.00
Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
Weekly low 12.00 14.40 23.00 24.80 25.20 5.60 701.00 80.50 49.60 20.00 Turnover in million 9.325 59.493 7.164 31.822 3.415 0.051 21.977 4.071 324.560 10.698 Latest EPS 2.22 1.09 1.80 1.14 1.39 -1.30 -4.06 1.85 7.26 0.56
Average (% change) -16.62 -17.20 -14.41 -13.89 -12.37 -11.76 -8.77 -10.71 -11.27 -10.74 Average (% change) -18.34 -18.61 -17.70 -16.38 -14.68 -9.83 -11.61 -11.54 -9.65 -9.89
Closing average 13.29 16.13 24.89 25.36 27.28 6.00 716.08 81.98 50.85 20.28
Weekly closing 13.20 16.10 24.80 24.90 27.10 5.90 705.40 80.90 51.00 20.10
Latest PE 6.0 14.8 13.8 22.2 19.6 -ve -ve 44.3 7.0 36.2
Closing average 13.00 22.30 24.50 16.18 25.23 26.87 22.45 50.90 23.88 23.70
Weekly closing 13.00 22.30 24.50 16.20 24.80 26.90 22.50 51.00 23.70 23.70
Weekly high 15.90 24.70 27.30 16.50 29.50 30.10 24.60 58.90 26.40 23.70
Weekly low 12.70 22.30 23.00 15.00 24.60 26.60 22.30 49.60 23.50 23.70
Turnover in million 1.163 0.036 0.665 6.361 2.058 0.467 0.030 26.038 1.652 0.012
Latest EPS 2.22 -5.96 1.80 1.09 1.14 1.39 2.23 7.26 1.17 2.67
Latest PE 5.9 -ve 13.6 14.8 22.1 19.3 10.1 7.0 20.4 8.9
ANALYST
Market ended the week flat as it had been trading within a range of 90 points for the last two weeks
DSE Million Taka 1356.44 616.75 219.37 976.71 1693.41 3749.04 9.03 1281.50 1613.54 4.40 152.09 248.23 77.83 2260.05 83.31 159.05 531.10 1579.07 184.40 660.84 4.37
% change 7.77 3.53 1.26 5.59 9.70 21.47 0.05 7.34 9.24 0.03 0.87 1.42 0.45 12.94 0.48 0.91 3.04 9.04 1.06 3.78 0.03
Million Taka 141.71 37.24 11.92 72.54 95.01 242.36 0.00 170.43 111.72 68.39 7.88 81.82 8.02 192.84 10.98 10.05 29.26 165.17 29.91 106.00 0.11
CSE
% change 8.89 2.34 0.75 4.55 5.96 15.21 0.00 10.70 7.01 4.29 0.49 5.13 0.50 12.10 0.69 0.63 1.84 10.37 1.88 6.65 0.01
Million Taka 1498.16 654.00 231.29 1049.25 1788.42 3991.40 9.03 1451.94 1725.25 72.79 159.97 330.04 85.85 2452.89 94.30 169.11 560.36 1744.25 214.31 766.84 4.48
Total
% change 7.86 3.43 1.21 5.51 9.39 20.95 0.05 7.62 9.05 0.38 0.84 1.73 0.45 12.87 0.49 0.89 2.94 9.15 1.12 4.02 0.02
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Meghna Petroleum -A LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A Olympic Ind. -A Padma Oil Co. -A HeidelbergCement -A Square Pharma -A Jamuna Oil -A BSC A Titas Gas TDCLA CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A Meghna Petroleum -A BSC A HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A BD Submarine Cable-A Square Pharma -A Emerald Oil Ind. -N Matin Spinning-N
Volume shares 4,606,469 20,604,505 4,952,588 5,112,459 2,580,475 1,087,520 2,257,854 2,169,925 723,930 4,139,518
Value in million 1395.73 1365.58 1294.35 1207.97 939.95 647.96 640.83 514.77 444.90 349.49
% of total turnover 7.99 7.82 7.41 6.92 5.38 3.71 3.67 2.95 2.55 2.00
Weekly closing 310.80 68.30 254.60 242.50 356.80 591.20 283.70 238.40 631.50 85.20
Price change 9.78 21.10 -0.55 6.88 0.85 0.37 1.21 4.06 1.12 6.63
Weekly opening 283.10 56.40 256.00 226.90 353.80 589.00 280.30 229.10 624.50 79.90
Weekly high 315.30 74.90 272.00 243.50 376.50 615.00 290.00 243.40 648.00 86.40
Weekly low 259.00 55.50 238.00 209.50 325.00 575.00 260.00 215.00 587.75 72.00
Weekly average 309.38 71.64 256.44 239.70 358.78 599.83 283.35 237.40 628.13 85.46
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
Volume shares 1,697,500 406,600 249,879 121,695 103,050 163,300 282,426 205,524 184,500 1,088,800
Value in million 112.43 106.00 75.64 75.18 61.95 59.42 59.18 58.20 43.29 42.47
% of total turnover 8.30 7.82 5.58 5.55 4.57 4.39 4.37 4.29 3.20 3.13
Weekly closing 69.00 254.30 310.90 630.50 591.30 356.80 209.30 283.50 46.10 38.90
Price change 18.56 -0.47 9.59 0.59 0.24 0.90 0.00 1.36 -4.16 -6.94
Weekly opening 58.20 255.50 283.70 626.80 589.90 353.60 209.30 279.70 48.10 41.80
Weekly high 76.10 271.00 315.00 645.00 615.00 377.00 216.00 289.50 238.00 42.00
Weekly low 55.90 251.50 282.50 586.00 574.00 353.10 205.00 278.90 44.10 37.10
Weekly average 72.50 256.80 308.76 626.10 599.05 358.48 209.50 283.23 239.07 38.09
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif displays a high-end smartphone during its launch in New Delhi
REUTERS
Lamudi to invest
PAGE 1 COLUMN 6
Lamudi aims to increase economic empowerment of the country by reaching to the non-residential Bangladeshis and for rapid urbanisation, said David Zwagemaker, managing director of lamudi.com.bd said yesterday. Commenting on the funding, in a statement, Paul Philipp Hermann, cofounder at Lamudi, added: The announcement of this substantial funding for our Asian operations is very welcome and will be crucial in helping us to make better and faster progress towards our goal of becoming the market leader in online property in Asia. The companys website for the Bangladeshi customers are one of the top 500 most visited website based on the performance during the last three months, according to Alexa, a website rating company. Currently more than 8,600 individual properties are listed at the site while 353 real estate companies are hosting their properties with lamudi.com.bd, all of which are RAJUK approved and varied by Lamudi.com.bd quality assurance team. l
Chinas new breed of whistleblowers Golden Son eyes local electronic appliance market takes on big business
n Reuters, Shanghai
Chinese lawyer Hao Junbo wants to make you rich if youre a whistleblower after a bounty. For big business in China hes a headache, part of a small but fast-growing industry built around exposing corporate wrongdoing. The US Securities and Exchange Commission received a tip-off a week from China last year, double the year before and five times more than in 2011. The attraction is a recently bulked up offer for as much as 30% of any fine if new information leads to the recovery of investor money over $1m. Last year, one Wall Street whistleblower pocketed $14m. The SEC is just one of many channels for this new breed of Chinese whistleblowers whose information has helped lead to investigations in China of firms including British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline Plc and French dairy Danone SA. It cant be denied that the financial benefits are an important incentive, said Hao, a Beijing-based whistleblower lawyer. Hao advertises online for whistleblowers to get in touch for the chance to uphold justice and win a huge bounty too, though he concedes he is yet to collect a reward. Hao said signs of stronger government support for Chinese whistleblowers had helped the sector come out into the open, with 150,000 tips investigated by authorities last year. But there is still a way to go to catch up with the well-established no-win-no-fee lawyers in the United States and Europe. Indeed, blowing the whistle in China can be a risky proposition, with those who come forward often facing a backlash from the local officials or businesses they accuse. Because some clients dont want to reveal their identity, they hire us lawyers to blow the whistle on their behalf, said Hao. His cut is a negotiated slice of any final bounty.
Joining battle
BGMEA to observe
PAGE 1 COLUMN 6
increased wages but the buyers did not increase prices of products. He also said the BGMEA was working hard to make the industry sustainable and to avert any further factory disaster for ensuring safe work place for the ready-made garment workers and the buyers should come up with realistic and effective measures for the betterment of the workers. The government amended labour law, increased wages, appointed factory inspectors after the Rana Plaza incident to ensure safety and improve working environment, said Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar. In his written speech, BGMEA president said: The BGMEA had spent Tk14.50 crore for the treatment of workers, rescue operations and to pay wages. It also contributed TK2 crore to the Prime Ministers Relief Fund. l
Whistleblowers in China have become more daring, lawyers and business people said, creating a tougher environment for companies, especially in sensitive sectors like pharmaceuticals where there have been a spate of probes against corporate corruption. At this point almost every pharmaceutical company is looking at their internal rules and procedures and whether they are being complied with. It is industry-wide, said Shanghaibased lawyer John Huang, co-founder and managing partner at MWE China, which helps firms negotiate with whistleblowers. Huang said the firm had seen whistleblower-related cases double over the last year, adding companies are launching internal investigations, seeking legal assistance and training to deal with issues such as dawn police raids and staff being arrested after insider tipoffs. Companies have also recruited law firms, investigators and compliance experts to stop potential whistleblowers from reporting externally, attempting to defuse the situation in-house before it sparks a wider probe. It doesnt always work out and falling foul of a whistleblower can have a serious impact. GSKs China sales plunged after police accusations that it funneled up to 3bn yuan ($482.99m) to travel agencies to facilitate bribes to doctors and officials to boost its drug sales. The investigation was sparked by at least one high-ranking whistleblower, a person with direct knowledge of that investigation told Reuters. The person declined to be identified because of the
sensitivity of the case. Whistleblowers are quite normal in China. In a place like this there are always some people like that involved because of personal interest - theyre unhappy with their experience or have conflicts with others in the company, the person said. GSK declined to comment. Chinas leaders have also put their weight behind the anti-corruption crackdown, with President Xi Jinping calling on Chinese officials to sweat corruption out of the system. Firms in sectors from energy and autos to food and healthcare have come under the spotlight. Chinas disciplinary watchdog also launched an online portal to encourage whistleblowers this month. The site allows people to view cases by region and gives them as easy way to make their own reports.
PAGE 1 COLUMN5
Taiwans finest engineers and Bangladeshs industrial experts to provide the highest quality products and services at competitive prices. Currently, GSL makes an array of products like fans and fan accessories, garment accessories, household items, solar items, screw items, water pumps, sports and baby toys and exports all of its products to the East and in parts of Europe. The company is also eyeing to foray into the US market. We have already sent product samples to the USA for getting clearance certificate. The production will be increased ten times from existing capacity, if approved, said Ahmed. The GSL Export Ltd, a subsidiary of GSL, has already set up a toy-manufacturing factory in its premises will go for production by June this year. The company has signed a memo-
randum of understanding with Stephen Christenson, a German industrialist and businessman, to produce toys for exporting all over the world. Under the agreement, Christenson owns 50%, Golden Son 40%, and Belal Ahmed 10% stakes in GSL Export Ltd. I formed the GSL Export Ltd a long time ago, to explore a new business, but political uncertainty delayed the overall process, he said. However, it came true after Stephen decided to shift his business to Bangladesh due to recent increases in labour and production costs in Latvia and China, he said. Presently, Stephen has business and factories of similar product lines in Germany, Latvia and China, among which, the factory in Latvia has been in operation for the last 103 years. GSL is one of Bangladeshs largest public companies involved in the manufacturing, importing and exporting of a variety of products. l
Whistleblower shepherds
There is a small network of lawyers in China and even overseas to encourage and direct whistleblowers in the country, while official channels have been set up to uncover officials bad behavior at state-owned enterprises and within government. Activists have also set up forums for whistleblowers to interact, such as the popular People Supervision Net, a muckraking portal headed by prominent Chinese whistleblower Zhu Ruifeng. You can find law firms, accounting firms and consultants who have built up businesses around being the shepherds for whistle blowers, helping guide them through the process, and obviously the incentive is the financial reward, said William McGovern, Hong Kong-based partner at law firm Kobre & Kim and a former SEC enforcement attorney.
I have taken the charge for an interim period on request from board of directors, AM Mosaddique Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. He was in the post before Kevin Steel joined Biman. Biman sources said Kevin Steel left Dhaka for home Saturday morning while Biman board hosted a farewell for him on Thursday evening. Steel said he had started some process and hoped his successor would take the lead to give Biman a new birth by taking some initiatives. The initiatives, he said, should include offering of new services and opening and re-opening routes. In spite of all the problems with political unrest and losses in November
and December 2013, Biman still expects to make its [improved] loss target for 2013-14, and be fully profitable in 201415. Biman has already begun searching for a new managing director and chief executive officer. It published advertisements in newspapers and formed a four-member sub-committee headed by Civil Aviation Secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury. According to the advertisement, the new MDs salary will be negotiable. Steels monthly salary was Tk18.3 lakh plus a flat in a posh area in Dhaka, transport facilities and 12 business class air tickets annually. The salary triggered controversies as no previous MD of Biman received more than Tk3 lakh. l
Md Nurun Newaz Salim, chair of NCC Bank Ltd attended the recently held business review meeting of the bank as chief guest
Modhumoti Bank Limited has launched an ATM Debit Card on Thursday at its principle branch. Humayun Kabir, the banks chair inaugurated the launching programme
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Training Institute recently organised a training workshop on prevention of money laundering and combating terrorist financing. The CEO and MD, Abu Sadek Md Sohel inaugurated the course as chief guest
Social Islami Bank Limited and its social volunteers have donated to Kailakuri Health Project for building Chechua Diabetes Centre at Mymenshing under Staying Close initiative of the bank. The banks chair Major (retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque handed over a cheque to the administrative officer of Kailakuri Health Project, Navian Nedin
Bank Asia has arranged a syndicated term loan of Tk170 crore for Star Porcelain Pvt Ltd to help the company set-up of a 100% export-oriented high quality porcelain tableware products. An estimated cost for the project has been earmarked Tk248 crore
B4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
The TPP would establish a free trade pact among 12 countries responsible for about 40% of global GDP
Intense negotiations this week narrowed the gap between the two sides, but considerable differences remain, US Trade Representative Michael Froman said after his meetings with Japanese Minister for Economic and Fiscal Policy Akira Amari. The round we just completed was focused but difficult. After more than 20 hours of negotiations, we continue to make progress, and we are now faced with a reasonable number of outstanding issues. The two sides have been wrestling in particular over Japans barriers to
A cutaway Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is displayed during the second press preview day at the 2014 New York International Auto Show April 17 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York AFP
Waiving rights
A man walks past a row of General Motors vehicles at a Chevrolet dealership on Woodward Avenue in Detroit Plc oil spill and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Feinberg told CNBC on Wednesday that GM is asking me to help develop some sort of program that might be used to compensate eligible claimants. Feinberg did not return a request for comment. A spokesman for GM, Jim Cain, said Feinberg is highly respected for his handling of compensation issues, and weve hired him to explore and evaluate all options. That work is ongoing, and no decisions have been made, Cain said. GM has been hit with dozens of lawsuits since it began its recall over the of the vehicles with faulty ignition switches were produced before the bankruptcy. GM made this argument recently in motions filed in federal courts in San Francisco and Corpus Christi, Texas. The company asked to put those cases on hold, saying it intends to ask a bankruptcy court in New York to decide whether such claims are barred against the current company. Another potentially strong shield for GM, legal experts said, is the statute of limitations, which sets a deadline for filing certain lawsuits. Those limits vary by state, but lawsuits over acci-
A victims compensation fund typically requires claimants to waive their right to sue and give up the chance to pursue punitive damages, a type of award not linked to an actual injury but designed to punish companies. Such waivers would protect the company from having to reveal potentially damaging details about its actions and face juries that could award victims huge sums in punitive damages. A fund would not, however, shield the company from government probes and potential criminal prosecution. GM is under investigation by federal prosecutors, regulators and Congress. The company is also conducting an internal probe. But funds are generally voluntary, and claimants cant be forced to sign on, a problem BP confronted. While its fund processed more than 1 million claims and paid out more than $6.2bn, it was still hit with hundreds of lawsuits from those who were either ineligible or unwilling for the fund. Compensation programs come in many forms and can be set up in a variety of ways. Congress created the fund for victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, and the White House worked with BP on its compensation system. A company could also act on its own to set up a fund. Theres another option - working with the US Department of Justice. US Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, suggested that path on Wednesday, saying that GM should agree to make victim restitution a part of any resolution to the ongoing criminal investigation. That could be GMs best option, as working together with federal prosecutors may help allay criticism that it is acting in its own self-interest, said Adam Zimmerman, a professor at Loyola Law School and tort law expert who worked on the Sept. 11 fund. While fairly unusual, such an agreement would give GM, and victims, more legal certainty and justice than its own fund. l
'We believe Western Unions agent locations in the US are ... more convenient to the majority of those sending and receiving money transfers'
We believe Western Unions agent locations in the US are ... more convenient to the majority of those sending and receiving money transfers, she wrote in a research note.
The new service is another effort to boost finance revenues from Wal-Mart customers, many of whom have little access to banking services, into stores that are experiencing declining traffic. According to a 2011 survey by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, 8.2% of US households are unbanked and another 20.1% are underbanked, making money transfers an important personal finance tool for them.
DILBERT