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n Tribune Report
In the face of resistance by the opposition alliance, the 10th parliamentary election held in 147 constituencies yesterday was marked by significantly low turnout in many centres and deadly violence in some places outside Dhaka in which at least 20 people, including an Ansar member, were killed. There were also allegations of vote rigging, irregularities and mismanagement in many centres, including a few in the capital. Supporters of several candidates, including those from the ruling Awami League and HM Ershad-led Jatiya Party (JaPa), rigged votes to ensure win. In Dhaka 15 constituency (Kafrul), activists loyal to ruling Awami League candidate and incumbent lawmaker Kamal Ahmed Mojumder compelled even an on-duty reporter to leave the Monipur School and College centre at Kazipara when they were filling up ballot boxes locking the doors. His rival candidate Ekhlas Molla boycotted the polls in the afternoon, accusing Kamal of rigging the votes. Over a dozen other contenders in different constituencies in and outside Dhaka also boycotted the polls, alleging irregularities by their rivals. In Dhaka 6 constituency, the activists of JaPa candidate Kazi Firoz Rashid stamped ballot papers openly in a centre for their candidate. Independent candidate Saidur Rahman Shahid, known as Commissioner Shahid, boycotted the election. There were similar allegations against many other candidates,
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Kamal Mojumders men throw reporters out of polling centres n Udisa Islam
The Monipur High School polling centre in the capitals Mirpur area under the Dhaka 15 constituency has been left empty since 2:45pm. No journalist or observer could be seen anywhere around. When the Dhaka Tribune correspondent got in, supporters of Awami Leauge candidate Kamal Ahmed Majumder snatched her mobile phone. She managed to escape their rage somehow with the help of a photojournalist and met many other journalists outside the centre. They said they had all been thrown out of the centre by the same men. At least 50 of Kamals supporters could be seen in the various booths inside the centre, vigorously stamping seals on the boat, on one ballot paper after another. They were all wearing badges that carried Kamals photo and name. Around 2:45pm, an 18-year-old boy named Jahirul Islam entered the centre. He already had indelible ink on his right thumb. When asked what was going on, a polling officer said: Just leave the centre. They [Kamals supporters] will get ferocious [if you do not]. Soon after, Jahirul and 10 others
NASHIRUL ISLAM
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The MDC Model Institute polling centre in Mirpur remains empty even after the voting started yesterday morning
INSIDE
News
3 Many rebel Awami League and independent candidates have boycotted the polls alleging various acts of fraud committed by their rivals endorsed by the ruling party.
Nation
6 Voting for the 10th parliamentary elections ended on Sunday amid poor turnout and violence at two constituencies in Rajshahi.
Op-Ed
11 Its election day, but I am certain that people of very few countries have experienced such national polls.
sition BNP and its allies boycotted the polls terming it one-sided. Last week, a high profile meeting
was held to analyse the legal procedures of forming the new government. The meeting was told that the main
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Zero votes
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where voting was stopped for violence in which ballot papers were burned, cocktails exploded and policemen beaten. At least 40 people were injured in hours of violence and a man named Matiar Rahman, 32, was killed in police shooting after the law enforcers finally began resisting the attack in the afternoon. Sardar Bahadur Ali, chairman of Durbadang upazila, confirmed that Matiar was a Jamaat activist. Police, however, said they had not found any dead body. By 2pm, the entire Upazila put on a deserted look as Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men felled trees in at least in 12 places, blocking the Jessore-Monirampur road. Hazrakati centre Polling Officer Mahmudur Rahman, who managed to flee unscathed, was told by the administration to find an escape route on his own. A group of 30 journalists, who were travelling together for security reasons, witnessed how Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men closed down the Bijoyrampur polling centre in the afternoon. They said BGB could be rarely seen in the area and the army personnel were only patrolling the highways. They saw at least half a dozen deserted polling centres while crossing the Monirampur upazila. Dealing with the situation [peacefully] was out of the question, said police constable Nazmul, stationed at the Ittapur polling centre in Kashimnagar. He was helping his colleague SM Alauddin, who was hit by a stick at the Monirampur upazila parishad premises around 12:55pm. We would have been dead had we not opened fire, because the mob was
so huge. Only the two of us were there and we did not have any back up either, Nazmul said. Alauddin said 50-60 men, lined up as voters, suddenly turned violent and swooped on the policemen. The polling staff at the centre set up at the Kalarhat Government Primary School were confined in a room and locked from outside by around 100 masked miscreants only five minutes after voting began in the morning. A magistrate later rescued them by breaking the lock, said Abdur Razzaq, assistant presiding officer of the centre. By midday, the Monirampur Upazila Parishad premises, where BGB set up a temporary camp, were filled with election officials returning from polling centres. The lack of security forced them to close voting in their respective centres although voting was supposed to continue till 4pm. Jessore district Returning Officer Mustafizur Rahman and police chief (SP) Joy Dev Bhadra could not be reached for comment. Swapan Bhattacharya, independent candidate at the Jessore 5 constituency and former Monirampur upazila chairman, alleged that the attackers were mostly supporters of his rival Khan Tipu Sultan, who contested the election on Awami Leagues ticket. Tipu Sultan used the name of Jamaat-Shibir for closing the centres where I was expecting a large turnout in my favour, said Swapan. Tipu Sultan could not be reached either. He had claimed earlier that his rival Swapan, in collaboration with the SP, was preventing him from running election campaign and threatening the voters. l
Jatiya Party and boycotted by the Awami League and BNP had 51.8% turnout, also considered as manufactured official data. In yesterdays elections, two constituencies that saw voting in Rajshahi had 30% turnout, Mesbah Uddin Chowdhury, the deputy commissioner and returning officer, told the Dhaka Tribune. In Tangail-2 constituency, Bhuapur Model Primary School, Gobindashi High School and Khanur Bari non-government primary school centres under Bhuapur upazila witnesses one vote each in the first five hours since the start of the voting. The scenario in the Awami League-dominated areas such as Gopalganj and Faridpur where the ballot crossed between 51% and 88%. At 3:58pm, just two minutes before the closing of votes, the centre 92 in the Rupnagar Adarsha Uchcha Bidyalaya recorded 367 ballots out of the total 2,646 in the Dhaka-16 constit-
uency. This means the turnout was around 14%. In another centre in the same school having six booths saw just above 12% turnout 330 against the total 2,690 votes. At 4:pm the turnout in Bhasaprodip High School centre under Dhaka-4 constituency stood around 20% --640 against the total 3,255 votes. At the closing hour, the Ekrashi Adarsha Uchcha Bidyalaya centre under Dhaka-1 constituency saw around 14% --218 against 1,598 votes. The Lalbagh No-1 Government Primary School centre under Dhaka-7 constituency, 887 votes were cast against the total 3,221 votes. The percentage stands at 27%. At the Kamarpara Alhaj Latifa Shahjahan Girl High School in Sirajganj, only 144 voters (over 8%) out of the total 1,734 cast their votes. The BNP Jamaat activists in many centres created panics among the voters by throwing cocktails. All of our leaders have not cam-
paigned properly thinking a sure victory of our candidates. We have failed to allay the fears of people about the polls, Jahangir Alam, a local leader who worked in favour of the Awami League candidate Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin of Dhaka-7 constituency, told the Dhaka Tribune. If our leaders and activists cast votes, the turnout cannot be so poor, he said referring to only 10 votes out of total 426 votes cast at the booth four of the West and High School centre. Md Masum, an agent of Ilyas Uddin Mollah in Rupnagar area, said they went from one house to another to woo voters. If they do not come, what else can we do? he asked. I wanted to vote, but the opposition would definitely brand me as an Awami League supporter. Why should I take the risk for the Awami League? Abdullah Al Mamun, a voter in Naogaon-5 constituency, told the Dhaka Tribune.
In circumstances where the main opposition is not only boycotting but also trying to foil the polls, we have succeeded in holding them in a free, fair and neutral manner. It is the victory for democracy, the former minister said. Suranjit and party presidium member Mohammad Nasim admitted they had made an effort to increase the flow of voters, and they blamed BNP Ja-
maats sabotage for the low turnout. However, they said they were happy that the elections had been free and fair. In their view, to complete the elections and overcome the oppositions bloodshed and violence was a great achievement. Azadul Islam Azad, general secretary of Awami League Chuadanga unit, told the Dhaka Tribune: Instructions were given to us from the partys central committee. We are trying to follow
them. But we cannot say that we have succeeded, because the opposition has scared the voters. Mohammad Nasim said: No matter how many votes were cast, our plan was to complete the election and we did that successfully. Polls-time minister Tofail Ahmed said the voter turnout was satisfactory. Foreign observers have also expressed their satisfaction about the turnout, he said. l
including Awami Leagues incumbent lawmaker Tipu Munshi who contested from Rangpur 4. The main opposition BNP and its allies boycotted the election and asked their supporters to resist it at any cost. Only two days before the polls, they had called a 48-hour hartal alongside their ongoing blockade programme. After the polls, they again called a 48hour countrywide shutdown from 6am today, demanding cancellation of the election. In the meantime, the Awami League leadership expressed satisfaction over the polls and thanked people of the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won from Rangpur 6 (Pirganj) constituency. Election in the Awami League chiefs constituency shows satisfactory voter turnout, around 58%. But during visits to different constituencies outside the capital, the Dhaka Tribune reporters saw low presence of voters in the centres. In the face of repeated violence allegedly committed by the BNP Jamaat men, many voters did not go to the polling centres. BAF Shaheen School and College in Dhaka Cantonment which can be considered as one of the most secured
polling centres out of the total 18,208 across the country also saw low voter turnout. In the middle of voting, Presiding Officer Amirul Islam Sheikh of the centre said 77 out of total 2,860 voters cast their votes. And at the end of the day, he confirmed that 263 votes were cast, which is only 9.19%. There was no candidate from the AL or the JaPa in the Dhaka 17 constituency. Among the three candidates one was from newly-registered party Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF), one from Jatiya Party (Manju) and the other was an independent candidate. All the candidates were apparently strangers to the voters of the constituency as they are little known in politics. Voter turnout in the Engineering University Girls School centre was 22.6% as only 224 voters, out of 990, exercised their franchise. In many constituencies, the supporters of AL and its allies did not turn out to the voting centres. Many of them expressed disappointment for holding the election without the main opposition. They think their parties would win even if they do not cast their votes. However, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said the voter turnout was insignificant as some political parties boycotted the polls.
There was no festive mood during the polls yesterday, a clear contrast with the polls in the past. Excitement was not seen among the polling agents of the candidates in different centres of the capital. The agents and the polling officials were seen spending relaxed and lazy time. Though the presiding officers attended the centres on time, before the polling started at 8am, other election officials in some centres were seen appearing late even in some cases, it was one hour after the polls had begun. Most of the centres were risky in this election. Despite this, the number of security personnel in many polling centres out of Dhaka was seen to be inadequate. In some centres, there were only two or three police and Ansar men. No major violence was marked in the capital except for explosion of few crude bombs near polling centres. However, several deadly incidents took place in around a dozen districts that killed at least 20 people. One of them was on-duty Ansar man while the 15 others were opposition protestors. The night before the polls, an assistant presiding officer of a centre in Thakurgaon district was beaten to death. On the polling day, three more people were killed in the same district in two separate clashes.
Faisal Mahmud, superintendent of police in Thakurgaon, told the Dhaka Tribune over phone, that one person was killed in a clash between the AL and the BNP activists. The two others died as the law enforcers opened fire on people who tried to bar voters from casting their votes at a polling centre. Due to violence, the EC postponed polling in at least 440 centres in a number of constituencies as miscreants set fire to the centres, snatched ballot papers and attacked election officials. The BNP and its allies boycotted the election, which has already received huge criticism as 153 candidates out of 300 were elected uncontested. President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury could not exercise their franchise as the candidates in their constituencies were elected unopposed. Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia did not vote. Only JaPa chief Ershad had the opportunity to cast vote in Adamajee Cantonment School and Collage polling centre. But he did not cast his vote even though he had contested the polls from two constituencies Rangpur 3 and Lalmonirhat 1. The former military dictator won in Rangpur and lost in Lalmonirhat. In the previous one-sided elections
in 1988 and February 15, 1996, the voter turnout was 51.8% and 26.5%. Until filing of this report, there was no official figure of voter turnout in yesterdays polls. There were a number of polling stations outside Dhaka where no voter turned out. Only four foreign election observers and 30 foreign journalists observed the 10th parliamentary elections. According to the EC, as many as 1,250 local observers got passes while 1,345 print journalists and 2,343 from electronic media received approval to cover yesterdays election. Local journalists got passes from the returning officers concerned. Despite many allegations, the ruling AL expressed satisfaction over the polls result claiming that the election was held in a fair manner and the voter turnout was also satisfactory. Democracy triumphed through this election, veteran AL leader and interim government Minister Tofail Ahmed told reporters after the polls ended at 4pm. On the other hand, the opposition led by BNP thanked people for rejecting the farcical and one-sided elections. It also asked the government to cancel the polls and to hold elections under a non-partisan government immediately. l
out of the 38 polling centres in four unions of the sadar upazila under the Lalmonirhat 3 constituency. Very few voters reportedly cast votes in the rest of the polling centres in the constituency. Seeking anonymity, a polling officer at the Barabari Government Primary School centre said: I closed the ballot box without any vote. Abdu Sattar, 58, a farmer from the Barabari village, said: I had no interest in casting my vote in the one-sided polls. He also said nobody from his village cast their votes either. However, some Awami League men alleged that voters could not come to the polling centres because BNP men had prevented them. Not a single vote was cast at the Agardhari Kaminia Kamil Madrasah, Agardhari Mahila Madrasah and the Godhagata and Shibpur polling centres in the Jamaat-dominated sadar upazila in Satkhira. Presiding officer Aftabuzzaman said no vote had been cast at the Godhagata Government Primary School polling centre which had 1,885 registered voters. Only one voter cast his vote at the Shialdanga Government Primary School polling centre. Miscreants set afire at the polling centre in the morning the day before the polls. No voter out of the 2,797 registered voters cast vote at the Maria Primay School in Charghat area in Rajshahi. Golam Mortoza, officer-in-charge of Chargat police station, said it was mysterious why voters had not come to cast vote. Local BNP leaders and activists guarded the polling centre, while sources said BNP leader Abu Sayed Chand gave life threats the day before the polls by visiting the houses of the voters. No vote was cast at the Bazrapur and Purandarapur polling centres under Moheshpur upazila in Jhenaidah. There were 2,542 and 3,528 registered voters in these two centres respectively. Only a single voter cast his vote at the Khalishpur polling centre in Jhenaidah. Kollanpur Rawshinia Dakhil Madrasah Presiding Officer Farid Ahmed and Kollanpur Government Primary School presiding officer Abul Kalam Azad said not a single vote was cast at the polling centres in Sirajganj district. l
Kamal Mojumder
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could be seen entering the next booth, taking out the bundle of ballot papers and stamping on the boat as many as they could. Presiding Officer Abdun Noor said: I do not know anything. Suddenly the school campus got crowded with boat men. They started threatening the reporters into leaving the centres. Around 3:45pm, one of the voters started teasing the journalists gathered in front of the centre. Observe as much as you like, but nothing will change. At least 50% votes have to be cast. The presiding officer said less than 10% of the registered voters cast their votes till 3:15pm at the Monirampur High School centre. l
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Clockwise from top left Supporters of Jatiya Party candidate Kazi Firoz Rashid try to convince a female assistant presiding officer at the Kamrunnesa Government Girls High School in the capitals Tikatuli to hand them over seals and ballot papers so that they can rig votes. The assistant presiding officer, harassed after refusing to cater to the demands of the supporters of Firoz, leaves the polling centre. The same supporter of Firoz, along with some of his associates, rigs votes in a polling booth at the same centre. The man in the red striped shirt is another assistant presiding officer who says nothing although the rigging is going on right under his nose
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Observers: Voters suffer in Chittagong; one killed Candidates failed Mostafa Bhuiyan, assistant presid- pur Government Primary School and Hayat, Tarek Mahmud ing officer at Kattali Nurul Hoque Gov- Chhadha Adarsha Mohila Madrasa of to motivate voters n Tushar and FM Mizanur Rahaman, ernment Primary School centre of Chit- Satkania due to the attack of miscreChittagong tagong 4 (Sitakunda) constituency, said ants the previous night. Mohammad Zakaria n Many locals in Satkania and LohagoMasuma Akhter went to Ocean Public the number of voters was low as severLocal observers said voter turnout was very low yesterday as many candidates had not tried to encourage the voters to exercise their franchise. We have observed the election in a very small scale. In the morning, the voter turnout was very low, Munira Khan, president of Fair Election Monitoring Alliance, told the Dhaka Tribune. I noticed that the voters were basically confused and the candidates did not support them to cast their votes. The media showed what happened centring the elections, she said. Abdul Alim, director of Election Working Group, said the voter turnout had been very low while the extent of violence huge. He said they would hold a press conference today at the National Press Club to disclose their observations. Only four foreign election observers from India and Bhutan and 30 foreign journalists observed the 10th parliamentary elections. According to the EC, as many as 1,250 local observers got passes while 1,345 print journalists and 2,343 from electronic media received approval to cover yesterdays election. Local journalists got passes from the returning officers concerned. The EU, the US and the Commonwealth did not send any observers. l School centre in Chittagong 11 (Bandar-Patenga) constituency yesterday noon to cast her vote. As she showed her national identity card, the polling officials asked her to come up with voter number. I went to the volunteers to collect my voter number. They, however, could not find my name even after one hour, she told the Dhaka Tribune outside the centre. During the visit around noon, only one voter was found casting his vote although there were a huge crowd in front of the centre. Presiding Officer Nurun Nabi said the number of voters was low. However, many voters failed to cast their votes as they were coming without knowing their voter numbers. Alamgir Hossain, a voter at the Kattali Munshipara Government Primary School, centre, could not cast his vote as there was no one to assist him in finding his voter number. I usually get several letters inscribed with my voter number from different candidates. But this year I have not got any, he added. Saifullah, presiding officer at Gosaildanga Government Primary School, said out of 2,513 voters, only 42 votes were cast until 1pm at the centre. al crude bombs were blasted in front of the centre in the night while two others in the morning. We, the election officials, are in a terrifying condition, he added. In violence, one person was killed while trying to snatch ballot box in Chittagong while voting was postponed at two centres with low voter turnout. Mohammad Shahjahan, officer-incharge of Lohagora police station, said a group of activists of Jamaat-e-Islamis student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir tried to snatch ballot boxes at Bhobanipur Government Primary School polling centre around 4pm. He died as the law enforcers opened fire to resist the attack. He, however, could not confirm identity of the deceased. Earlier, Jamaat-Shibir men swooped on Uttar Dhemsha Baruapara Government Primary School centre at Buddhist locality of Satkania around 1pm leaving 10 people including the presiding officer and several policemen injured, said OC Khaled Hossain of Satkania police. The injured were taken to hospital. Around 500 people besieged the centre and snatched ballot papers promoting the authorities to postpone the voting. Situation became normal after around two hours. Voting was postponed also at Azim-
ra alleged that they were afraid to go to the polling centres. Abu Mohammed Mezbah Uddin Mazumder, presiding officer of Purbo Maijbhandar Primary School centre in Fatikchharhi, told the Dhaka Tribune that a group of 20-30 men forcibly entered the centre and snatched 78 ballot papers prompting them to postpone voting around 11:30 am. He said they had resumed voting after two hours. While visiting different polling centres, the Dhaka Tribune reporters found low voter turnout at Dhurong Khulsi Lions School and College, Azimnagar Government Primary School and Maijbhandar Girls School. However, the authorities were found reluctant to take any action in this regard. Prof Firoz Ahmed, presiding officer of Azimnagar Primary School centre, said they nabbed four men red-handed while casting fake votes. Mahmud Hasan, independent candidate from the constituency, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had boycotted the election as the AL men were rigging votes after driving out his polling agents from the centres. Muhammed Nazrul Islam, UNO and assistant returning officer of the centre, said he had not received any such complaint. l
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9, Zafar Khan, claimed around 3000 votes were cast. Whereas the presiding officers claimed 200 votes were cast in total. Also, polling officers of centre 5 said the number of votes cast was 120 by around 3:55pm, while Presiding Officer Mobarak Hossain claimed the number to be 200 at that time. Although a number of polling agents of Awami League were seen, no agents of Bangladesh Nationalist Front were found there. l
Rakib Hossain, voter of Chandpur 1 was unhappy as he could not cast his vote in the election: 'We were deprived of casting votes'
Those who won unopposed in those five seats are former home minister Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir from Chandpur 1 constituency (Kachua), Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya from Chandpu 2, former foreign minister Dipu Moni from Chandpur 3, Mohammad Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan from Chandpur 4 and Major (retd) Rafiqul Islam from Chandpur 5. Rakib Hossa, a voter of Chandpu-1, was unhappy as he could not cast his vote in the election: We were deprived of casting votes. Umme Zohra Suma, a voter of Chandpur 2, said: Our voting rights were seized. A voter of the Chandpur 3 area, Masum Gazi, told the Dhaka Tribune: I have just finished my HSC examination and Im a first-time voter. I am feeling very bad and upset. l
Supporters of Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin threaten supporters of Hazi Selim yesterday in Jamila Khatun Lalbagh Girls High School polling centre in the capital
WEATHER
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:22am 6:42am 12:04am 3:50pm 5:26pm 6:46pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
Jamaat-Shibir activists, with children in the frontline, bring out a procession with tree logs and swords yesterday, protesting the elections in Gaibandhas Palashbari Matherhat area FOCUS BANGLA
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Special
Very few voters were seen at Majedul Islam Model School High School polling centre in the capitals Pallabi yesterday
NASHIRUL ISLAM
Police recovered five crude bombs in front of a polling centre at Nababganj in Dhaka
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad visits Badrunnesa Government Girls College centre
Members of Law enforcement agencies in action during a clash that took place between activists of the 14-party and 18-party alliances at Charghat in Rajshahi DHAKA TRIBUNE
An election official sits idle, waiting for voters at Azimpur Girls School centre in the capital
The district and sessions judge examines a stack of ballot papers in which an assistant presiding officer allegedly cast votes at Uchaliapara Government Primary School centre in Brahmanbaria. The judge later arrested the polling official FOCUS BANGLA
Supporters of rival candidates are locked in an altercation after one of them entered the Majedul Islam Model School High School centre with a laptop NASHIRUL ISLAM
A significant number of voters are seen in queues at the Model School centre in Gopalganj
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Employees of Election Commission return back to upazila headquarters with election equipment after voting was postponed at some polling centres DHAKA TRIBUNE
Army personnel patrolling Mirersarai upazila headquarters after a crude bomb exploded that created panic among voters in the locality
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Presence of polling officers was also poor. When contacted, District Returning Officer Mezbah Uddin said that many officers could not reach just time due to dense fog and bone-chill cold
Presence of polling officers was also poor. When contacted, District Returning Officer Mezbah Uddin said that
A number of people also accused local Awami League activists of casting false votes in favour of their candidate
Later, around 3pm in the afternoon, Mir Anwar Hossain, chief election coordinator of the Jatiya Party candidate Zainul Abedin Chawdhury, also claimed that the Jatiya Party candidate decided to boycott polls as Awami League activists were casting false votes in favour of their own candidate. After all the votes had been cast, Monoj Kumar Kanti Boral, returning officer and district commissioner of Naraynganj, claimed the vote had been peaceful. l
A relative of Rajib, who was shot during a clash that took place between police and activists of the 18-party alliance at Polashbari in Gaibandha, looks after him DHAKA TRIBUNE
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Long Form
Does it have to be an actual murder caught on national television like Bishwajits to jolt us or our government into action? What are we waiting for?
n Adita Hasan
t is said that the degree of civilisation of a society is measured by how it treats its women and children. If the way in which the average Bangladeshi citizen is being treated these days is any indicator, then the plight of our society must be pitiful indeed. On December 29, I watched the live television coverage of the show-down between two warring political factions on the Supreme Court premises. I confess to not being in the least surprised by the ridiculous and reprehensible behaviour exhibited, given the state of affairs that has come to pass over the course of the previous year. If there was any question remaining about the degree of civilisation in our society, this past weeks coverage of bricks being thrown into the Supreme Court grounds by screaming women in support of AL, and bottles being thrown down from the roof of our highest judiciary by BNP-loyalist lawyers has probably laid to rest whatever limited expectations of civilised behaviour we may have still held from certain segments of our society. But I digress, for my article is not in support of one political party or another, nor is it about the impropriety and total lack of civility that was evident on the Supreme Court premises lately. This is about something more specific: On Monday morning I opened the newspaper to find two photographs of female lawyers being beaten to the ground by men with sticks directly outside the Supreme Court building, while an audience of onlookers, including some who appeared to be law enforcement officers, stood idly by watching. In the first photograph, a lady in a white kameez and advocates black coat is lying on the pavement, attempting to shield herself against the blows of four surrounding men, all of whom are wielding sticks and whose faces are clearly visible. One of
Different shot of the first picture mentioned in the article, where a lawyer is being assaulted on the High Court compound. The file photo was taken on Dec 29
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them appears to be beating her with a flagpole bearing the national flag, in addition to which, wrapped around his forehead, is a bandana-like fabric somewhat resembling the said flag. The Supreme Court building and what appear to be law enforcement officers in uniform are visible in the background. In the second image, a lady in a black kameez, identified as Simki Imam Khan, lies cowering on the ground with the foot of an unidentified man pressed down on her body. She is surrounded on all sides by an audience of men who appear to be beating her, and/or watching the show, including one who is holding yet again a flagpole bearing the Bangladesh flag. These images are a national disgrace, and they will colour international perception of the state of our country for a long time to come. But what is more deplorable is that in the days that have passed since the assault, no statement has emerged from the authorities addressing these graphic and shameful attacks, and not one of the men visible in the photographs has been arrested in this connection. It is completely irrelevant whether the two female lawyers in question are loyal to the opposition party as reported, or whether the men assaulting them are allegedly affiliated with the ruling party. Beating somebody with a stick is a criminal offence no matter
Despite all these extra police deployed on the streets, I have never felt my life and security to be more at risk than I do today
who the victim or perpetrator is, and irrespective of what political affiliation they belong to. The fact is, in spite of such a vivid public display of violence against women, and despite photographic evidence exposing the perpetrators, very little fuss has been made in this regard by us citizens in general, and none at all by the authorities. Perhaps the sad truth is that this is not at all strange; this is in fact the standard (of indifference) we have come to expect from both citizens, authorities, ruling parties, opposition parties, and almost everyone in between in this country. We tsk tsk for a bit, we comment on how scandalous it is, we share photos of these women being viciously beaten on social media, and then we move on. Now, I dont mean to sound unrealistically idealistic here. I accept that I live in a crazy land where the course of politics has become perverted completely, and usurped all sense of morality and appropriacy; where the collective national consciousness seems to have fallen into some kind of coma of helpless complacency; where children are frequently maimed in blasts for which no group will claim responsibility, where we no longer bat an eyelid at arson, terrorism or physical violence as long as it is committed by one political group or another, and where citizens cannot leave their homes for days, if not weeks on end, for fear of themselves or their transport being torched as part of the collateral damage in the ongoing political warfare. Call me nave, but I am still finding it difficult to digest the impunity with which identifiable persons who publicly assault two female lawyers, on the grounds of the highest court of justice in the land, can walk around scot-free while the authorities behave as if this is barely noteworthy. What is wrong with us? Does it have to be an actual murder caught on national television like Bishwajits to jolt us or our government into action? What are we waiting for - the rape of some woman in the name of politics on national television? When will we finally stop and say: This is too disgusting to be tolerated? When will we acknowledge that no civilised nation or democracy would behave in this way? I am certainly not saying that children losing their limbs or that vehicles and their occupants being set alight is in any way less significant or horrifying than women being beaten on the streets. In those tragic circumstances, however, each party is so busy apportioning blame on the other that hunting for the individuals actually responsible and bringing them to justice takes a back seat. But surely no one in a civilised nation should get away with criminal assault in broad daylight when caught in the act on camera. If people do break the law with such impunity, then the government has a responsibility to bring them to book, irrespective of whatever political affiliation the victim or perpetrator may have. Why is it that these men were allowed to wander the streets bearing sticks as weapons? Why did the police
not intervene when these women were being beaten in plain sight? Why have the men in these photographs not been arrested yet? I suppose it is expecting too much since the police commissioner himself has reportedly said that the men wielding sticks were merely carrying flags; indeed at least one of the men in each photograph can be seen beating the female lawyer in question with a flagpole bearing the Bangladesh flag, in one case even with what appears to be a flag wrapped around his head, no less. What a proud day for our nation and for the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for that flag. What a fantastic and appropriate garb to attire yourself with, while you use your collective flagpoles to beat defenceless women to the ground. You do us proud. What does us even more proud is the fact that you and your thug friends are still free to walk about, happy-go-lucky in our midst, at full liberty to pounce upon your next victim of violence whenever you please. So long as you are toeing the line of the political party of the day and of course, wearing your flag proudly as a symbol of the brave patriot and woman-beating son of the soil that you are. Bravo. Its actually a beautiful and fitting symbol of where we are today as a nation the political parties can violate our rights as a citizen and treat
broad daylight, and face no consequences. Lets put this in perspective: According to both the ruling party and the opposition all the actions currently undertaken by them are in fact in our best interest. It is for the sake of safeguarding the future of my democratic rights as a citizen and for my own security that I, along with the rest of the nation, am being forced to live through these times. Well, speaking for myself as a citizen and a woman, despite all these extra police deployed on the streets, I have never felt my life and security to be more at risk than I do today. I may be torched for leaving my house at the wrong time, arrested for expressing the wrong opinion, wounded in a bomb blast through no fault of my own. On top of all that, if a group of men beat me up in broad daylight and in full public view, not only might law enforcement look the other way, but in spite of photographic evidence exposing them in mass media, my perpetrators may escape justice depending on their political affiliation. If this is what security and rights and rule of law mean for a free citizen of a democratic country, then there is nothing left to be said. Welcome to Bedlam, ladies and gentleman also known as Bangladesh: the land of no accountability. l Adita Hasan is a freelance contributor.
The political parties can violate our rights as a citizen and treat us whatever way they want so long as they cloak their actions under the garb of patriotism, of democracy, of love for the country
us whatever way they want so long as they cloak their actions under the garb of patriotism, of democracy, of their undying love for their country. They only have our best interests at heart, apparently. Thats why we havent been able to leave our homes in peace for months (its for our own security, and/or for the sake of future democracy), thats why our children are being injured in cocktail blasts (because its nobodys fault) and why groups of men can commit physical assault on defenceless women in public, on camera, in
Picture of Simki Imam being assaulted at the High Court compound on Dec 29 the second photo mentioned
RAJIB DHAR
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
thing that is possible to help them. Both Ramadi and Fallujah were insurgent strongholds in the years after 2003, and Fallujah was the target of two major assaults in which US forces saw some of their heaviest fighting since the Vietnam War. American troops eventually wrested back control of Anbar from militants, with the support of Sunni Arab tribesmen of the Sahwa militia, who joined forces with the US from late 2006. US forces suffered almost one-third of their Iraq dead in Anbar, according to independent website icasualties.org. But two years after US forces withdrew, the power of militants in the province is on the resurgence. Fighting erupted in the Ramadi area on Monday, when security forces cleared a year-old Sunni Arab protest camp against what they see as the marginalisation and targeting of their minority community by the Shia-led government. The violence then spread to Fallujah, and the subsequent withdrawal of security forces from parts of both cities cleared the way for militants to seize control. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki had long sought the closure of the protest camp outside Ramadi, dubbing it a headquarters for the leadership of al-Qaeda. But its removal has caused a sharp decline in the security situation. ISIL is the latest incarnation of al-Qaedas Iraq affiliate and has made a striking comeback this year, taking advantage of widespread discontent among Sunnis and its newfound bases in neighbouring Syria, where it has become a major player in the nearly three-year-old conflict. Violence in Iraq last year reached a level not seen since 2008, when the country was just emerging from a brutal period of sectarian killings. l
The coffin of a man killed in fighing is carried for burial in the western Iraqi city of Fallujah
AFP
n AFP, Fallujah
Washington said Sunday it would help Baghdad in its battle against al-Qaeda but that there would be no return of US troops, as sporadic clashes occurred near militant-held Iraqi cities. The takeover of Fallujah and parts of Ramadi is the first time that militants have exercised such open control in major cities since the height of the bloody insurgency that followed the US-led invasion of 2003. Fallujah is in the hands of fighters of the al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a senior security official said Saturday, putting
militants back in control of the city where US forces repeatedly battled insurgents. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the United States would provide assistance to Iraqi forces in their battle against the militants but that it was their fight. There were sporadic clashes on Sunday morning both on the outskirts of Fallujah and inside Ramadi, the Anbar provincial capital, AFP journalists reported. It was not immediately clear which of the four parties to the fighting the regular security forces, loyalist tribes, ISIL and forces of the anti-government
Military Council of the Tribes were involved. On Friday and Saturday, more than 160 people were killed in the worst violence to hit Anbar in years. Kerry said Washington was very, very concerned about the resurgence of ISIL but said it was not contemplating any return of US ground troops, after their withdrawal in December 2011. We are not obviously contemplating returning, we are not contemplating putting boots on the ground, this is their fight, Kerry told reporters in Jerusalem But were going to help them in their fight... We are going to do every-
US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks during a press conference at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem AFP
Iraq city seizures illustrate al-Qaeda Israel rejects US proposals on Jordan Valley groups resurgence
n
AFP, Baghdad
The seizure by al-Qaeda-linked militants of a major Iraqi city and parts of another illustrates their resurgence, and harkens back to the darkest days of the insurgency that followed the 2003 US-led invasion. The al-Qaeda franchise in Iraq fell from the height of its influence in the years after the invasion, suffering defeats by American forces, especially after Sunni tribesmen joined them from late 2006 in a process that became known as the Awakening. But it has made a striking comeback in its latest incarnation, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which spans more than one country and has been bolstered by the cross-border ties it has established in Syria during the countrys civil war, analysts say. It is now a major force in the Syrian conflict, and has also carried out operations in Iraq ranging from brutal bombings of civilians to brazen prison assaults. ISIL has been able to leverage its networks and capabilities in Iraq to become a strong presence in Syria, and has used its presence in Syria to leverage its position in Iraq, said Daniel Byman, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institutions Saban Centre for Middle East Policy. It now is again able to conduct limited guerrilla war as well as a sustained campaign of terrorism, he said. But ISIL went far beyond its usual bombings and hit-and-run attacks when it seized parts of the Anbar province cities of Ramadi and Fallujah, west of Baghdad, which it has held for days. A senior security official said Saturday that Fallujah was completely under ISIL control, with witnesses reporting ISIL militants in both cities, including fighters patrolling them in vehicles. On Friday, hundreds of gunmen, some bearing the black flags often flown by jihadists, gathered at outdoor weekly Muslim prayers in Fallujah, where one militant announced that Fallujah is an Islamic state. Fighting began in the Ramadi area Monday when security forces broke up the countrys main Sunni Arab anti-government protest camp and then spread to Fallujah. Security withdrew from areas of both cities, which cleared the way for militants to move in. More than 160 people have been killed in fighting between ISIL, security forces and tribesmen in just two days. Objectives far beyond Iraq ISILs strength and territorial control and influence has been expanding in Anbar for some time, said Charles Lister, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Doha Centre. Its objectives lie far beyond Iraq, but transnational objectives of establishing an Islamic state across the Levant can only be realised once mini-states of territorial control are realised, Lister said. In the Iraqi context, Anbar and also Nineveh (province) are of crucial importance as a result of their direct links into eastern Syria. Defence ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askari has also highlighted the importance of the Syrian connection. Aerial photographs and other information point to the arrival of weapons and advanced equipment from Syria to the desert of western Anbar and the border of Nineveh province, encouraging militants to rebuild once-eliminated camps, Askari said. Security forces have targeted militant camps in recent operations in western Iraq. John Drake, a security specialist with risk management firm AKE Group, said the situation in Anbar is comparable to the bad days at the height of the insurgency. But while it may add to ISILs credibility, attempting to hold territory poses risks. It will give more credibility to the group, but in the longer term, it will have to tread very warily if it is to avoid incurring the wrath of the local population again, Drake said. l
n AFP, Jerusalem
Israel rejects any US-proposed security concessions for the Jordan Valley, a cabinet member close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, as US Secretary John Kerry visited the Middle East. Security must remain in our hands. Anyone who proposes a solution in the Jordan Valley by deploying an international force, Palestinian police or technological means ... does not understand the Middle East, Intelligence Minister Yuval
Steinitz told Israeli public radio. Palestinian hopes of having an international force brought in to help patrol the Jordan Valley under a peace deal had been sidelined, a Palestinian source told AFP Saturday. Instead the US was proposing a mixed Israeli-Palestinian military presence to ensure security in the area, without setting a deadline when the Israeli troops would be withdrawn. But Israel insists on maintaining a long-term military presence in the Jordan Valley. l
Clashes kill at least Ex-Israel PM Sharons death imminent 23 in north Yemen n AFP, Tel Aviv n AFP, Sanaa Former Israeli prime minister Ariel ShaTwo days of clashes between Shia rebels and Sunni tribesmen fighting alongside hardline Salafists in northern Yemen have killed at least 23 people, sources said on Sunday. Fighting has centred for months on a Salafist mosque and Koranic school in Dammaj, which has been besieged by the Shia rebels known as Huthis. But the conflict has spread in the northern provinces, embroiling Sunni tribes wary of the power of the Huthis, who have repeatedly been accused of receiving support from Iran. On Sunday, at least 10 people were killed in Jawf province in clashes between rebels and armed men from the Daham tribe, a tribal chief told AFP. Seven people were killed at Harf Sufyan, in the northern province of Amran, another tribal chief said on Sunday, while two others died in shelling of Dammaj, in Saada province, Salafist websites reported. Four people died in fighting that took place in Jawf on Saturday, another tribal chief said. l ron was on Sunday facing imminent death, the Tel Aviv hospital where he is in critical condition said. The health of the 85-year-old Sharon, who was dubbed the Bulldozer both for his style and physique, has been worsening since Wednesday when he suffered serious kidney problems after surgery. And on Sunday, the director of Tel Hashomer hospital said Sharon was still in danger of imminent death although his heart is holding out better than we thought. I am more pessimistic than I was before... his vital functions, especially renal, havent picked up, Zeev Rotstein told reporters. I cant see the future, but theres not possible way out of this. On Friday the hospital said there were traces of infection in Sharons blood, and that it had not been possible for him to undergo renal dialysis since his other organs were in such a fragile state.
OTHER NEWS
Sailor survives sharks, four missing from Taiwan boat
An Indonesian sailor has been rescued despite suffering a shark attack but four other crewmen are missing after their Taiwanese fishing boat apparently caught fire in the East China Sea, officials said Sunday. Taiwans coastguard said they were informed by their Japanese counterparts Saturday noon that the 26-tonne Cheng Tsai Li was drifting 35 nautical miles (65 km) northeast of Miyako-jima, an island in Japans Okinawa prefecture. An Indonesian sailor aboard the fishing vessel was rescued by another Taiwanese fishing boat, the Taiwan coastguard said. He was injured, suffering from shark bites, coastguard spokesman Hsieh Ching-chin told AFP. No details of the attack or the mans injuries were available. Two coastguard vessels from Taiwan and two from Japan were mobilised to search for the four missing crewmen the Taiwanese skipper, a Taiwanese sailor and two Indonesian sailors. As of now, we have had no luck. Were racing against time as the weather is cold, Hsieh said. The cause of the accident was not immediately clear but it seemed that the Cheng Tsai Li had been hit by a fire, he said.
Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has been in a coma for eight years The long-time leader of the rightwing nationalist camp in Israeli politics, Sharon suffered a massive stroke on January 4, 2006, slipping into a coma from which he has never recovered. Sharon was first elected premier in February 2001, just months after walking through east Jerusalems flashpoint
AFP
Al-Aqsa mosque compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, in an action that sparked the second Palestinian uprising. In an extraordinary and controversial career stretching back more than half a century, he made it his mission to safeguard national security. l
Some 51 Indonesians who drifted in rough seas for five days after the engine on their rickety boat failed have been rescued by Malaysian authorities, a report said Sunday. The 34 men, 14 women and three children including a two-month-old girl, are thought to have boarded the fishing boat on December 28 as they tried to sneak out of Malaysia to return to Indonesias Sumatra island, The Star reported. But the vessel suffered engine problems and drifted until maritime personnel spotted it on Thursday off northern Perak state, the report added. The immigrants were weak from hunger and shaken by bad weather that rocked the boat, Razak Johan an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency told the paper. They are now under investigation for trying to illegally leave the country, it said. Razak and other officials could not immediately be reached for comments. Around two million Indonesians and others from poorer regional countries are estimated to work illegally in Malaysian plantation, construction, factory and other jobs. They often use rickety boats to sneak in and out of the Southeast Asian country, and accidents are common.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
Ajit Panchwadkar, who was supervising the rescue effort Sunday. Many of the workers had come from other, poorer states, including Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, in search of jobs in Indias thriving construction business. One worker who was not at the scene when the building collapsed said he earned about 300 rupees ($4.80) for a days work, according to Press Trust of India. Several workers took the day off Saturday to attend a nearby state cultural fair. We rushed from the event when we heard that the building had fallen, said Manoj Kumar, a worker originally from the eastern state of Orissa. Building collapses are common in India, as massive demand for housing and lax regulations often encourage builders to cut corners by using substandard materials or add unauthorized extra floors. l
Rescue workers look at a body stuck in the debris of a building that collapsed in Canacona, about 70km from Goa state capital Panaji AP
US lawmaker Stephen Rapp is Chief prosecutor of the special court for Sierra Leone
AFP
n AFP, Colombo
A top US envoy will travel to Sri Lanka on Monday to discuss allegations of war crimes ahead of a UN review of Colombos human rights record, officials said. US Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice Stephen Rapp will spend five days in Sri Lanka discussing rights and reconciliation following the decades-long separatist war, the US State department said. Rapp will meet with government, political and civil society officials on a range of issues focusing on Sri Lankas justice, accountability, and reconciliation processes, the US State Department said in a short statement on its website. The visit comes as the UN Human Rights Council meets in March to dis-
cuss whether Sri Lanka has shown progress towards reining in alleged rights abuses and investigated suspected war crimes. The UN estimates that the conflict for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in the Sinhalese-majority nation cost at least 100,000 lives between 1972 and 2009. Sri Lanka has resisted calls to investigate allegations that up to 40,000 ethnic Tamil civilians were killed by the security forces during the final push that crushed the Tamil rebels. UN rights chief Navi Pillay has warned Sri Lanka that it faces an international probe into the allegations if it has not shown progress by March. There was no immediate comment from Sri Lankas foreign ministry on Rapps visit and no further details were immediately available. l
N Korea fumes Cambodian opposition leaders summoned to court over Kims rejected n AFP, Phnom Penh peace gesture Cambodias opposition leaders have been summoned to court on suspicion n AFP, Seoul of inciting civil unrest, their party said,
North Korea slammed South Korea on Sunday for dismissing a peace overture by leader Kim Jong-Un, accusing Seoul of pouring cold water on its attempt to mend ties. During his New Year address last Wednesday, Kim hailed the execution last month of his once-powerful uncle, and accused the US and South Korea of manoeuvring for a nuclear war. But he also called for a favourable climate to ease tension with Seoul, saying it was high time to improve ties that had been strained for years. The South Korean government described the move as an empty gesture Friday, however, urging the communist state to scrap its nuclear programmes to show it is committed to mending relations. Peace and reconciliation cannot be achieved merely by words, Seoul said in a statement. In order to improve ties between the South and the North, North Korea must show sincerity in building trust and above all, it must make genuine efforts for denuclearisation. The North on Sunday fumed at the cool reaction by the South, calling it undesirable and saying it would result in further raising tensions on the peninsula. Seoul... answered Pyongyangs call for defending security and peace of the nation with bellicose remarks and provocative sabre-rattling, the Norths spokesman for the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK), in charge of cross-border affairs, told state-run KCNA. l after the government of strongman premier Hun Sen moved to suppress growing street protests. Hun Sen faces an increasing challenge to his nearly three-decade rule from striking garment workers as well as opposition supporters demanding that he step down and call a new election because of alleged vote fraud. Police have indefinitely banned further rallies, including one which had been planned for Sunday, after several demonstrators were shot dead on Friday. Cambodia National Rescue Party leader Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha have been summoned to Phnom Penh Municipal Court on January 14 for questioning in the case of incitement to commit criminal offences or serious social unrest, according to warrants posted on the opposition website late Saturday. Rainsy told reporters they were ready to defend themselves at the hearing. We have done nothing wrong. On the contrary, it will be an opportunity for us to help expose the truth, he said. The opposition party has boycotted parliament since the July election, alleging that Hun Sen was returned to power because of widespread vote-rigging. The 61-year-old prime minister has ruled for 28 years and vowed to continue until he is 74. He has faced mounting criticism over his rights record as well as accusations of excessive force against demonstrators.
The powerful booster technology, using supercooled liquid fuel, is designed to put heavier satellites into high orbits
If we succeed this time, India will join a select club of space-faring nations with indigenous cryogenic engine capability to launch above two-tonne class satellites, Karnik said. The United States, Russia, France, Japan and China are among the countries to have successfully developed cryogenic boosters. The twin purpose of this launch mission is to flight test once again our own cryogenic engine and put into the geostationary orbit a heavy communication satellite, Karnik said. It has taken ISRO scientists years to develop cryogenic motors after its bid to import the technology from Russia in 1992 failed because of opposition from the United States. The powerful booster technology, using super-cooled liquid fuel, is designed to put heavier satellites into high orbits, about 36,000 kilometres (22,000 miles) from Earth. A cryogenic rocket stage is more efficient and provides more thrust for every kilogram (kg) of propellant (fuel) it burns compared to other solid and liquid fuel stages, Karnik said. Since 2001, India has bought cryogenic engines from Russia and seven of them have been used on missions. India first staked its claim for a share of the lucrative commercial satellite-launch market by sending an Italian satellite into orbit in 2007. l
A poster showing the leader of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party Sam Rainsy and vice President Kem Sokha On Friday police opened fire on striking garment factory employees demanding a minimum wage of $160 per month for their work in an industry which supplies brands like Gap, Nike and H&M. Rights activists said at least four civilians were shot dead in what they described as the countrys worst state violence against its citizens in 15 years. A day later dozens of security personnel armed with shields and batons chased hundreds of protesters including monks, women and children from their rally base in a park in the capital, according to activists. Police and civilian thugs used metre-long steel poles to beat and intimidate the peaceful protesters before tearing down the rally site, according to the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defence of Human Rights.
AFP
Freedom Park, also known as Democracy Park, was opened by the government in 2010 as a designated area for people to air their grievances, and protesters had occupied the site since last month as part of demonstrations against the contested election. An estimated 20,000 or more opposition supporters took to the streets of the capital a week ago to demand Hun Sen step down. l
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
Democracy at a crossroads
January 3 Ifty Islams full page essay on the above subject succinctly portrays the total decline and downfall of democracy in Bangladesh today. All political, civic and moral principles have been battered by our self-centred politicians. This writer feels that for us democracy has reached a dead end. Maybe we should forget it, and the alternative of autocracy or even dictatorship may be a better option. At least it will ensure peace and law and order for the common man, which is their prime need, instead of this bent and broken governance by democracy. When all is said and done, democracy is dead, and our future smeared in uncertainty of lawlessness and destruction, fights and endless rowdiness. The way we are going, it is an invitation for total destruction of the country due to the unmanageable infighting between the political parties. That is the irony of our fate! SA Mansoor
he 10th parliamentary elections have been concluded. They were not ideal, but they could have been worse, and we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the nation has come through the process relatively unscathed. The violence that marked the election was unprecedented and abhorrent, but not as bad as had been feared might occur, and for the most part people were able to vote without hindrance. Similarly, the strong-arm tactics employed by the ruling party together with credible allegations of rigging in certain constituencies were deplorable and unacceptable, but there is still scope to hope that the final results will be a fair approximation of the true vote count. In short, we have got through January 5 without catastrophe, and, in these anxiety-ridden times, that must be counted as a good thing. A constitutional crisis has been averted, and we must now turn our attention back to resolving the political crisis that remains. Let us move forward and not back. The elections have happened and there is nothing to be gained by relitigating the rights and the wrongs of the decision to hold them on January 5. Nor is there anything to be gained by endlessly bickering over the path that brought us here. What is important now is for the two sides to sit down together as soon as possible and work in good faith to bring about an election that is acceptable to the Bangladeshi people and that is their democratic right. The January 5 elections have provided a modality for the resolution of the political impasse. Let us use it to do just that. The general public expects and deserves nothing less.
We must now turn our attention back to resolving the political crisis that remains. Let us move forward and not back
Be Heard
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The violence that has accompanied the oppositions campaign has done nothing except to damage its standing and credibility with the people
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Op-Ed
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E D E N
n Towheed Feroze
ts election day, but I am certain that people of very few countries have experienced such national polls. Already, a large number of candidates have been elected uncontested, while many like us, who asked out of curiosity as to why there was no pre-election activity in the area with campaigners going around canvassing for votes, the answer was simple this area falls within the category of unopposed ones where no one stood against the ruling party candidate.
One cant remember an instance when politicians listened to reason laid out by journalists or civil society members
So, no voting and yet the country is holding the national elections. Take out the bat, the ball, and hit the open space in the alley for some smashing cricket! Of course, those who refuse to let the past be forgotten forever, or feel that history needs to be taken into account in order to assess almost all political episodes, remember a similar situation back in 1996. Yes, 17 years is a long time long enough for some people to completely forget the then political settings. Facing conditions similar to the present ones, AL was on the other side, agitating for elections to be held under a neutral administration. In the elections that followed, after amendment to the constitution, AL came out as the winner.The lesson was this: When a nation sees that a
party is being deliberately and unjustly deprived, it quickly takes the side of the weaker party. The oppressed always have the upper hand! Be that as it may, despite several articulate appeals made by noted editors, underlining the downside of holding forced elections without the major opposition party, wisdom has not prevailed. But then, one cant remember an instance when politicians listened to reason laid out by journalists or civil society members. The opposition is cornered and how much credibility this new government will get is open to debate.Interestingly, this writer received a public awareness message, exhorting citizens to exercise their democratic voting rights. One is compelled to look at the definition of democratic right once again. Doesnt it mean taking into account the will of the people? If that is so, then the masses were not asked to view their opinion about holding elections under a caretaker government. If surveys carried out by papers are anything to go by, then its clear that most people are for such a neutral system. In all this rhetoric about politics by politicians regarding the need to uphold the sanctity of the constitution, the mention about the will of the people has been laced with ambiguity. But then, we forget, the people are expected to nod and give their consent and go home believing in the illusion of the power of the masses. The universal truth: Conditions never remain static forever, todays king/queen may not be tomorrows pauper, but his/her throne may be shaken years from now. Just an example: When Tony Blair came to power with the promise of a new hope in Britain, optimism was pervasive.At one point in the late nineties, the situation was such that it was felt Blair could not do anything wrong. The UK economy was showing robust signs after decades of gloom, while The Labour Party was a darling of the masses. How that picture of roses and honey changed to disillusionment with the Iraq War is documented to the letter. Maybe Blair wont be recalled as the messiah but the mess-maker!
Ghosts of the past haunt election day The once confident leader looks beleaguered when answering questions about the justification of the Iraq invasion. Alas! Political perspicacity is lacking in Bangladesh. We always think of the moment, let the days to come be damned. Everything said and done, one simply cannot end with a pessimistic note. Bangladesh has withstood countless upheavals in the past, and still the nation managed to scrape through. As common people say:Deshtar upor Allahs doa asey(there is divine blessing over the country)! We have witnessed the bloodstained seventies, the autocratic 80s, and then the rollercoaster ride that came with the 90s.Lets just say, we are going through a process of evolution. Roller coaster rides are never forever, they stop after a time. Whatever happens, and no matter how deflating the situation may seem, it would be unwise for us, the nation, to give up hope. From the people, the exhortation has to be for a new breed of politician to rise, harbouring the desire to annul the rusty political ideology based on egotism. At this very moment, such an expectation may appear quixotic, but we must hope.In that frame of mind, on this strangely quiet day, I will put Hirak Rajar Deshe, a Satyajit Ray classic about a fabled kingdom where people
The people are expected to nod and give their consent and go home believing in the illusion of the power of the masses
are brainwashed, in the DVD player. Surely, lost in a world where miracles happen to resolve peoples concerns, one will be able to brush aside the phantoms of 96. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.
n FS Aijazuddin
ead leaders in Pakistan do not forfeit their constituencies. If anything, their vote bank increases as time passes. No one listening to Bilawal Bhuttos speech at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on December 27 could have had any doubt that the late Benazir Bhutto and her father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto still control their Pakistan Peoples Party from the grave. The road from their imperial mausoleum leads straight to the ballot box.
his mothers untimely death than his father Mr Asif Ali Zardari, for no other president in modern times, except perhaps for US President Bill Clinton, has swum so close to whirlpools of self-destruction, and survived. Former presidents find that time weighs heavily on their hands. Some endow libraries in their name, establish archives of their presidential records, write self-serving memoirs, attend the funerals of their colleagues, or in time plan their own. Mr Zardari is not one for librar-
n Wasim Mahmud
angladesh is now seen internationally as a country of enormous economic potential, and in recent years, the country has made huge progress in many social indicators including poverty alleviation, child mortality, and others. And yet, the political culture and associated violence seems to be on the rise, frustrating the general public.
This brand of necro-politics is peculiar to the subcontinent where our dead exercise a peculiar posthumous power over the living
I firmly believe that relieving the Mujib and Zia families from politics in itself shall stimulate and rejuvenate politics
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto died in 1979. Many Pakistani presidents have died since then Ziaul Haq (1988), Ghulam Ishaq Khan (2006), and Farooq Leghari (2010). Zias son Ijaz Ul Haq went into politics, Ghulam Ishaq Khans son Mamoon abstained from it, and Farooq Legharis son Owais never left it. Mr Bhutto ensured that his daughter Benazir would never have such options available to her. Her destiny was predicated from her cradle to her grave. She became a wife, then a mother, but she could never bring herself to renounce the white veil that marked her political persona. It has taken six years for her son Bilawal to reach the age when he can vote for himself. He has almost five years more to go (unless there is a snap general election in between), during which he will be required to demonstrate qualities that he may have inherited but which nevertheless will have to be tested on the anvil of experience. In many subtle ways, there could not have been a better regent since
ies or archives. He is too reticent to write his memoirs. His security detail will prevent him from attending any public funeral.And he is too active to contemplate his own departure from the world. Having stood on the bridge of the PPP since becoming a widower, his mission is to ensure that his son is trained to captain the ship of state when the time comes. And when will that time come? Judging from Bilawals dramatic debut, in his mind even yesterday is a day too late. He is understandably impatient to claim his inheritance. If his speech at Garhi Khuda Bukhsh is any indicator, Bilawal is not in need of any further tuition. He has obviously studied footage of his mothers speeches and subconsciously absorbed many of her characteristic inflections. He has observed to the point of imitation the oratorical mannerisms of his grandfather, even standing at the podium (like Mr Bhutto) with his sleeves half rolled, one fist on his hip and the other flailing in the air.
I have a very limited understanding of Bangladeshi politics and politics in general, however, I still cant stop thinking about a probable resolution to get out from the political deadlock thats been orchestrated by the two major parties since the ousting of the Ershad government. Essentially, the country is in the grip and cycle of a duopoly political dynasty where neither is prepared to let go of the other, and in the process are jeopardising the livelihood and living conditions of the general people, and punching a serious blow to the socio-economic fabric and progress of the country. There seems to be no end in sight to such a cycle of violence emanating from the aggressive politics run by these families. This is why the business leaders, journalists, lawyers, think-tanks and the broader public need to voice their
on an all-party government for two years. The functions of the new interim government besides the general administration would be to undertake and complete specific tasks as directed by the ninth Parliament. The specific tasks are to include the following. l Amend the constitution for allowing ceremonial powers to the Mujib and Zia families for consecutive terms in recognition of their contribution to the liberation war and independence. The technical details for such nomination can be worked out by constitution and law experts. l Amend the constitution (if necessary) for smooth and independent operation of the
three divisions of the state: The administration, the judiciary, and the parliament. l Make laws to ensure establishing of democracy within all registered political parties by reference to established democracies, such as the UK, USA, and others. l Establish policy to ensure free and independent functioning of the Election Commission and the anti-corruption regime. l Make laws to ensure neutral operations of other institutions free from political influence of the ruling party by specifically holding the head of the government department accountable for the smooth and professional functioning of each department.
concerns and look seriously for a political resolve before the country is broken into pieces and rendered into a lawless no-mans-land, or a failed state like many other countries near and far. My proposal broadly encompasses a way to free the Mujib and Zia families from the duties of government functions. These families in combination have led the liberation war and have made immense sacrifices during and after the liberation of the country. The countrymen have deep respect for both the families and in the interest that the respect is held firm, these families should be allowed to move
out from active politics and running of the administration. We have seen such examples from Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev, and others. I firmly believe that relieving the Mujib and Zia families from politics in itself shall stimulate and rejuvenate politics so much, that the seed of democracy, leadership, and political professionalism will ensue in each party, and the political parties in their own interest will revise their manifestos to ensure leadership on the basis of merit and not inheritance. l Wasim Mahmud is a freelance contributor.
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
How preferential are you in picking roles?
Being a struggling actor in the industry I shouldnt say how many offers I had turned down. But, I really want to act in such productions which are meaningful and perform in characters to which I can connect with. I love challenges and diversity in my characters. Also films, with unconventional story lines hold a great deal of appeal for me. I want to captivate my audience by presenting them with different roles all the time.
Our film industry is struggling much to improve its standard and thus new directors and experimental productions are being welcomed and so new faces are being favoured like me.
Among the films I am working in, the first to hit the theatres should be Shongram, which is a romantic drama set against the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War backdrop. The film is directed, written and scripted by Bangladeshi British citizen Munsur Ali and it is aimed to recive international exposure. It is scheduled to be released primarily in 32 countries at the last week of March this year. I have am done with the shooting of Mayanagar directed by by Ismat Ara Chowdhury Shanti. In this film, I am playing a character of a model trainer. Recently I have been working on Animesh Aichs Zero Degree where I will be seen opposite Mahfuz Ahmed. The film is a psychological thriller. Here I play the wife of a person who neither forgets, nor forgives and is revengeful in nature. My son dies in an accident and my husband loses stability and blames me for the situation and sets out to take revenge on me. I have also signed for another movie titled Three Illegal, directed by Aminul Islam Bappi, where I will be seen as an expat from the UK.
I always try to learn from observing the acting of senior actors of home and abroad. Apart from this, I study my roles in and do homework to prepare myself for the character. For me, I think acting comes from inside. An actors inner feeling about the character gives a complete touch on acting. I am learning things with time.
Obviously, I want to continue modeling as it gives me the pleasure of my work and I enjoy doing modeling.
I would love to play any political leaders character from the history and also want to play the character of a blind girl.
ON TV
MOVIE
8:45pm Fox Movies Premium
Shallow Hal
I will try my level best to be a successful artiste in the industry. Also I want to see myself as an established artiste in the international arena in future. l
DRAMA
11:00pm Star Jalsha
Shokhi
9:30pm HBO
11:30pm Zee TV
Jodha Akbar
The Guillotines
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, House 42 Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12 8pm Shilpangan, House 7 Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi Zainul Quamrul Exhibition Time: 10am 8pm Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery, National Museum Shahbagh, Dhaka
Film
Pacific Rim in 3D Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex, Bashundhara Cityd Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 6 9
DAYS TO GO
14 Arsenal sink Spurs in cup, Blades fell Villa 15 Australia crush England to seal 5 0 Ashes sweep
BRIEF SCORE
Sydney Sixers 4 for 150 Lumb 54, Shakib 2 21 Adelaide Strikers 7 for 149 Shakib 46, Reardon 43, Hazlewood 3 16
Sydney Sixers won by six wickets
Adelaide Strikers all-rounder Shakib al Hasan pulls out a scoop against Sydney Sixers during their Big Bash match at Adelaide yesterday
The Mozambique-born striker made his name at Benfica, winning 11 league titles and one European Cup during a 15-year spell there. He also won two Golden Boot awards as Europes leading goalscorer. Recruited aged 19 by the Lisbon club for his exceptional technical and physical qualities he helped the club win the 1962 European Cup against the Real Madrid of Argentine legend Alfredo Di Stefano. He was not only one of the greatest figures of football but also of Portugal. Eusebio is Portugal, Chelseas Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho told RTP. I grew up with Eusebio and Amalia Rodrigues (singer who died in 1999), ... as the great symbols of Portugal. They are simply immortal, he said. There are princes of football but Eusebio was in the gallery of kings, former Benfica coach Toni told TSF radio. l
Naimur Rahman Durjoy un-opposed from Jessore-3 to get his first taste of parliamentary experience. Former member of the BFFs National Team Management Committee Ekramul Karim Chowdhury and Mustafa Rashidhi Dara were elected from the constituencies of Noakhali -4 and Khulna -4 respectively. While the above mentioned names were elected un-opposed there were some names who had to cross the election hurdle Former director of Bangladesh Cricket Board Golam Dastagir Gazi was elected
Arif Khan Joy from Naryanganj-1, former national football captain and current BFF vice president Arif Khan Joy- won the seat of Netrokona-2, the first Test captain of the country and current BCB director A.M. Naimur Rahman Durjoy swept the Manikganj-1 constituency and Shamsul Haque Chowdhury won the constituency of Chittagong -12. Shahriar Alam, who was the president of Bangladesh Tennis Federation and former vice president of Bangladesh Hockey Federation retained his seat of Rajshahi-6. l
Spains Rafael Nadal poses with his winning trophy after beating Frances Gael Monfils in the final tennis match of Qatars ExxonMobil Open in Doha Saturday AFP
14
RESULTS
Arsenal
Cazorla 31, Rosicky 62
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
20 12 12 21 10 11 23 40 23 11 00 11 02 12 11 20 43 41 21 02 33 40
Aston Villa
Helenius 75
Barnsley Bolton
Coventry
RESULTS
Derby County N Forest
Blackpool
02 50 31
Chelsea
Brighton
Crofts 32
Reading Watford
West Ham
Sunderland
Stevenage
Carlisle United
Robson 43
Everton
QPR
Grimsby
Huddersfield
Ipswich
McGoldrick 38
Preston
Kidderminster Macclesfield
Williams 72
afterwards, gathering a pass from Hazard and beating Lee Grant at his near post with a powerful shot. West Ham became the second Premier League team to be eliminated by lower-league opposition in this seasons competition when they were crushed by Championship side Forest at the City Ground. Sunderland overcame third-tier Carlisle United 2-1 at the Stadium of Light to take their place in round four. l
Middlesbrough Newcastle
Cisse 62
Cardiff
LUIS FIGO
Norwich
Snodgrass 45
Bent 40
Rochdale
Southampton
BENFICA
(Statement from Eusebios Former club) We will remember his talent, his example, his character which marked Portuguese football and which established him as a global benchmark for football. Eusebios life is the heritage of all those who love football. Benfica was his home port ... He made Benfica more than a club, he made it his home and his family. The memory and legacy of Eusebio will remain among us.
Southend
Millwall
Stoke
Nugent 77
Leicester
Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla celebrates scoring the opening goal of the English FA cup third round match against Tottenham Hotspur at the Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday AFP
Yeovil
Leyton Orient
ARMANDO GEBUZA
(Mozambique President) Hes a figure who has contributed to the deep and rich history of Mozambique. Eusebio came here from time to time. He always maintained a link with Mozambique. Hes a very well known and respected figure in our country.
Everton crushed Championship high-fliers Queens Park Rangers 4-0, with Nikica Jelavic claiming a brace, while Southampton edged Burnley 4-3 in an entertaining game at St Marys. Hull City won 2-0 at Middlesbrough and Stoke City defeated Championship leaders Leicester City 2-1. Wigans trophy defence began in uncertain fashion as they were held to a 3-3 draw by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, while Millwall, semi-finalists last year, crashed out after an embarrassing 4-1 defeat at fourth-division Southend United. Bolton Wanderers belatedly exacted revenge for their 4-3 loss to Blackpool in the 1953 final by beating their Championship rivals 2-1, while Leeds United fell to a shock 2-0 defeat at Rochdale. Meanwhile, the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, non-league Macclesfield Town, claimed a 1-1 draw at home to second-tier Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a 72nd-minute equaliser from Steve Williams. l
ANTONIO SIMOES
(Eusebios former international teammate) Eusebio showed an extraordinary inner strength (...). I felt that he was not well recently, but I didnt want to broach the subject with him. He had extraordinary stories which he lived through and which he loved to tell
CRISTIANO RONALDO
(Portugal captain) Always eternal #Eusebio, rest in peace.
JOSE MOURINHO
(Chelseas Portuguese coach) He was one of the great figures of Portugal, a nobleman of our country. I think he is immortal. He was an important reference in his vision of football, his values, principles, and emotions and that even after the end of his career. If we try to compare with modern day football Eusebio would be on the level of the best. If he were 20 or 30 years old today, he would have had an unbelievable level.
FACT BOX
Name: Eusebio da Silva Ferreira Date of birth: 25 January 1942 Date of death: 05 January 2014 Place of birth: Maputo, Mozambique Nationality: Portuguese Height: 1.75m Weight: 73kg Position: Striker
Clubs
Lourenco Marques (MOZ/1957 1960), Benfica (POR/1960 1975), Boston Minutemen (USA/1975), Monterrey (MEX/1975 1976), Toronto Metros-Croatia (CAN/1976), Beira Mar (POR/19761977), Las Vegas Quicksilver (USA/1977), Tomaar (POR/D2/1977 1978), New Jersey Americans (USA/D2/1978 1979)
GREG DYKE
(Football Association chairman) Every generation has great footballers. He was clearly a world-class footballer who scored an awful lot of goals. He had a level of natural talent that most players dont have. He was the (Lionel Messi) or Ronaldo of his time.
SAMUEL ETOO
(Cameroon international) Africa, Portugal, the WORLD just experienced a great lost. Eusebio was not only a tremendous player..but also a exceptional man. RIP big bro
International career
Number of caps: 64 Goals: 41 First cap: 8 October 1961 (LuxembourgPortugal 2 4)
Achievements
World Cup: 3rd (1966) European Cup/Champions League: 1962 Portuguese league titles: 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975 Portuguese Cup titles: 1962, 1964, 1969, 1970, 1972 N American Soccer League title: 1976 Goals scored: 733 in 745 professional matches
Individual honours
European football of the year - 1965 Top scorer 1966 World Cup (nine goals) European golden boot - 1968, 1973 Top scorer in Portuguese league - 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973
net on a record 317 goals in 301 Portuguese league appearances. His tally of 41 goals in 64 caps for his country compares favourably with Ronaldos 47 in 109 appearances. Although he played for eight clubs in total, all his significant achievements came during a 15-year stint with Benfica, winning 11 Portuguese titles, five domestic cups and the leagues top scorer on seven occasions. He also won the European Cup once - scoring twice in the 5-3 win over Real Madrid in 1962 - and featured in another three finals.
Nicknamed the Black Panther, Eusebio was noted for the power of his shot, but also his speed and athleticism. As Stepney could testify, in addition he was a fine sportsman. Crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1965, Eusebio was Golden Boot winner at the World Cup 12 months later, scoring nine times in just six games, including four in an incredible quarterfinal win over North Korea at Goodison Park, when Portugal came back from three goals down, an individual haul exceeded only once in the competitions entire history. l
GARY LINEKER
(Former England international) Sad news that Eusebio has died. One of the greats of his generation. Could play and strike a ball like very few others. #RIP
DAVID BECKHAM
(Former England international) Sad to hear of the passing away of Eusebio today. He was one of Footballs Greats and a good person. A true legend
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
SCORECARD
Australia 1st innings 326 Smith 115, Haddin 75; Stokes 6 99 England 1st innings 155 B. Stokes 47; P.Siddle 3 23, M. Johnson 3 33, R. Harris 3 36 Australia 2nd innings (Overnight 140 for 4) Chris Rogers c and b Borthwick 119 George Bailey c Borthwick b Broad 46 Brad Haddin b Borthwick 28 Mitchell Johnson b Stokes 4 Ryan Harris c Carberry b Borthwick 13 Peter Siddle c Bairstow b Rankin 4 Nathan Lyon not out 6 Extras (lb14, w2, nb2) 18 Total (all out; 61.3 overs) 276 Bowling Anderson 15 6 46 2, Broad 14 1 57 2 (2nb, 1w), Rankin 12.3 0 47 1, Stokes 10 0 62 2 (1w), Borthwick 6 0 33 3, Pietersen 4 1 17 0 England 2nd innings Alastair Cook c Haddin b Johnson 7 M Carberry c Haddin b Johnson 43 Ian Bell c Warner b Harris 16 Kevin Pietersen c Bailey b Harris 6 Gary Ballance lbw b Johnson 7 Ben Stokes b Harris 32 Jonny Bairstow c Bailey b Lyon 0 Scott Borthwick c Clarke b Lyon 4 Stuart Broad b Harris 42 James Anderson not out 1 Boyd rankin c Clarke b Harris 0 Extras (b5, lb2, nb1) 8 Total (all out; 31.4 overs) 166 Bowling Harris 9.4 4 25 5, Johnson 9 1 40 3 (1nb), Siddle 4 1 24 0, Lyon 9 0 70 2 Australia won by 281 runs Australia won series 5 0
QUICK BYTES
Victorious skipper Michael Clarke rated Mitchell Johnson among the fast bowling greats after spearheading Australia to a 5 0 Ashes whitewash of England in Sydney on Sunday. The lethal leftarm paceman captured three for 40 as England surrendered to a 281-run defeat in the final Test to finish with 37 wickets for the series at 13.97. Johnson edged wicketkeeper Brad Haddin as the man of the series, and he set the tone for Australias domination with man-of-the-match honours in three of the five Tests. Clarke said 32-year-old Johnsons sustained aggressive bowling throughout the series was an amazing achievement. I hate to say I told you all so but I told you all so, Clarke chided reporters at his post-match conference. Man of the series, who would have thought? Except me and perhaps Mitch. Hes been an amazing bowler for a long time. I think the way hes come back into this team... hes bowled with great aggression. AFP
50
Australia players pose with the Ashes trophy in front of Members Pavilion as they celebrate 5 0 victory in the Ashes series against England at the SCG yesterday
AFP
Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed on Saturday that his club have cancelled a trip to Abu Dhabi after they were taken to an FA Cup replay by Blackburn Rovers. Abu Dhabi-owned City were due to travel to the United Arab Emirates for a friendly against Al Ain on January 14 and a week of warm-weather training, but instead they must prepare for the replay with second-tier Blackburn. Alvaro Negredo put City in front on the stroke of halftime in the third-round tie at Ewood Park, only for Blackburn captain Scott Dann to earn his side a 1 1 draw with a 55th-minute equaliser. City later had right-back Dedryck Boyata sent off for two bookable offences. With City second in the Premier League and also still in contention in the League Cup and the Champions League, the replay is a fixture that Pellegrini could do without, but he believes that it could prove beneficial. AFP
Japanese international Kaisuke Honda on Saturday described his transfer to AC Milan from CSKA Moscow as a dream come true and promised to achieve something special in Italy. Milan are a legend, its a dream come true, Honda told the Milan Channel television station on his arrival at the citys airport ahead of his official presentation on Wednesday. I know the situation, I know that everyone is expecting a lot from me. For my part, I believe I can do something special. I am confident. The 27-year-old midfielder, who will be crucial to Japans hopes at the World Cup later this year, spent three years in Moscow before agreeing a deal with Milan which will take him through to June 2017. AFP
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 6:00AM Oklahoma City v Boston 8:30AM LA Lakers v Denver Star Sports 4 Italian Serie A 5:30PM Napoli v Sampdoria 8:00AM AC Milan v Atlanta La Liga 12:00AM Real Madrid v Celta Vigo 2:00AM Rayo Vallecano v Villarreal Star Sports HD1 Italian Serie A 8:00PM Parma v Torino 11:30PM Lazio v Inter Milan
RESULTS
Sevilla
Vitolo 34, Bacca 55, Rakitic 77
30 40
Getafe
Barcelona
Elche
Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez celebrates his third goal during the Spanish first division match against Elche at Camp Nou stadium, in Barcelona yesterday REUTERS
Maj. Gen. Sabbir hands over the prize to a winner of the Millennium Golf at the BGCC recently COURTESY
16
E L E C
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
I O N S
Activists of the 18-party opposition alliance beat up one of pro-government activists in Monipur village of Rajshahis Charghat yesterday as the two groups engaged in a fierce battle after supporters of the ruling 14-party alliance allegedly attacked the houses of the opposition men in the area DHAKA TRIBUNE
Shamsul Haque Tuku won the election with 65,929 votes beating his nearest contestant Prof Abu Sayeed who received 45,379 votes.
Amid the low turnout, supporters of Awami League leader and State Minister for Home Shamsul Hoque Tuku allegedly tried to rig votes in Pabna Sadar. Tukus son Ashik Al Shams allegedly led a gang of some 50 supporters and attacked Shahidnagar Government High School and Satiakola Dakhil Madrassa around noon. Presiding officers of both the polling stations, Atiqur Rahman and Sakhawat Hossain, made similar complaints. They sent a letter to the TNO. Thana Nirbahi Officer (TNO) Shafiqul Islam said they would be taking due action. Those fake votes will be cancelled, he assured. Abu Sayeed, former junior information minister and an Independent candidate alleged that Tukus supporters were preventing his supporters from voting. Supporters of Tuku also allegedly attempted to rig polls at Samannapara Government Primary School centre, but police dispelled them by firing blanks. Shamsul Haque Tuku won the election, with 65929, votes beating his nearest contestant Abu Sayeed received 45379 votes. The other two candidates Yasin Arafat and Nazrul Islam received 661 and 1093 votes respectively. l
A SWAT team stands guard outside a polling centre in the capitals Mirpur 10 yesterday
NASHIRUL ISLAM
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Business
for the first time in more than a decade as the central bank figure shows that in 2013, expatriates remitted US$13.84bn, a drop of 2.39% over 2012. Bangladeshs manpower export in 2013, compared to the previous year, decreased by over two lakh to little 4 lakh, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training. In the first four months of the cur-
rent fiscal year, revenue income fell by Tk3,100 crore from targeted Tk33,400 crore, the National Revenue Board data show. According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, inflation increased by 0.12 percentage points to 7.15% in November 2013, from 7.03% in the previous month of October. During July-November period, the
government spent Tk13,156 crore, which is only 20% of the Tk65,872 crore earmarked for the annual development programme, according to the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the planning ministry. The overall export, though it rose by 18% in five months of the current fiscal year, are set to suffer as the buyers
were slashing the export orders. The apparel industry accounts for almost 80% of the countrys total export earnings. Global retailers canceled orders valued at $3.77m in December as the blockades disrupted shipments, according to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. Orders for the fall season have
dropped substantially because the global buyers are scarred of the prolonged political unrest, Shahidullah Azim, BGMEA vice president, told the Dhaka Tribune earlier. The countrys imports, however, increased by 9% to $14.54bn in the first five months of the current fiscal year compared to that of the previous year due mainly to rising import of food grains, Bangladesh Bank officials said. Owning to higher import growth amid such an adverse investment climate, the central bank smells rat as it has recently asked banks and financial institutions to preserve data of clients in an effort to prevent money laundering. You need not to become a pundit to understand the situation, said Ahsan H Mansur, executive director of Policy Research Institute. He feared that the countrys GDP growth might go down below 5%. His estimation is much lower than the budgetary projection of 7.2% for the current fiscal year and close to the International Monetary Funds forecast of 5.5% and the World Banks 5.7%. The BB has already revised it down and said growth is likely to see between 5.7% and 6%. Ex-finance adviser to the caretaker government Mirza Azizul Islam said the situation might turn worse as strain relationship has already developed with America and European Countries the countrys major export destination. Economist MA Taslim said present political deadlock should be settled down immediately. If it lasts two or three months more, people will have no other means but to fight back to live. The countrys GDP could have registered 10% growth in next few years but, he said, the political instability has already destroyed the prospect. l
sector to deeper crises in the coming days, he added. Now, we are facing fund crisis problem as are not being able to ship our products on time, we need to take air shipment option which is unbearable to us," said Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh. He also said regular delay in shipment might put us in order crises as buyers are also trying to shift their focus from Bangladesh to other countries. Reaz Bin Mahmood, BGMEA vice president (finance), said political unrest has already tarnished the image of countrys RMG sector and buyers confidence level over Bangladeshi products already went down. We are now facing several challenges over safety and security in boosting the confidence of the buyers amid political unrest. Since November 1, the country has been going through series of blockades and hartals enforced by the opposition, breaking the supply chain of the country. According to BGMEA, since then there were 41 days of hartal and blockades, which spoiled 41 working days in this sector, leaving this sector in deeper crisis. l
Shops remain closed yesterday as the country holds parliamentary election amid the boycott of the main opposition. In protest, the opposition is enforcing shutdown and blockades. On that no-business day, the passersby near a polling station in Old Dhaka find only a tea stall open and get a hot touch in the chills MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
$9.21m
$5.35m
B2
n Reuters
Happy New Year! For the first time since 2008, we investors, economists and businesspeople say these words without irony. While last year was statistically disappointing, with global growth slowing slightly from 2012 and apparently belying the optimism expressed here last January, the verdict of financial markets and business sentiment has been much more consistent with my predictions. Despite the apparent slowdown, stock markets enjoyed their best performance since the 1990s, long-term interest rates soared and consumer confidence all over the world ended 2013 much higher than it started. This apparent paradox is easily explained: the statistical weakness of 2013 was due entirely to a very weak period last winter, connected with the US presidential election and leadership transition in China. By the second quarter, growth had revived in the U.S. and China and accelerated strongly in Britain and Japan. That conventional wisdom last January was far too pessimistic about the economic outlook is evidenced by the subsequent behaviour of financial markets, where equities outperformed bonds by the biggest annual margin on record. But today almost everyone is optimistic. So what unexpected developments could surprise financial markets and business sentiment in 2014? Below are five personal guesses - some possibly far-fetched and others are seemingly obvious, but none yet fully reflected in market prices:
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
Japan is the major economy most likely to disappoint expectations in 2014, making a mockery of the optimism expressed here last year about Abenomics. The consumption tax increase in April will produce a fiscal tightening worth roughly 2% of GDP, after allowing for some feeble offsetting measures. As a result, Japan will probably sink back into recession by the second quarter and the stock market will fall sharply, even though the Bank of Japan will try to ramp up its monetary stimulus and the yen will probably weaken even more.
Traders, wearing novelty 2014 glasses, trade at the closing bell on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on New Year's Eve in New York growth rate assumed in business and financial planning. Global inflation expectations will also rise to around 3%, raising the benchmark for global growth in nominal terms to around 7%, very similar to the 10 years before the 2008 financial crisis. In other words, the new normal of global stagnation widely predicted after the crisis will turn out to be not very different from the old normal. Wall Street has now decisively broken a 13-year trading range and past experience, as described in this column last March, strongly suggests that this breakout signals the start of a bull market in global equities that will last for many years. Shifting from history to financial fundamentals, the 6 or 7% nominal growth I expect in the global economy should translate into similar growth in corporate revenues and earnings. That would imply similar gains in equity prices, even without any increase in price-earnings multiples or leveraging up of corporate balance sheets through stock buybacks. Given that equity valuations are still only slightly above long-term average levels and that companies are flush with cash, there should be scope for considerably stronger gains in many stock markets. The biggest problem for stock markets will be higher interest rates, since 10-year yields will rise to at least 3.5% as the US economy accelerates. But history shows that stock market prices usually rise alongside rising bond yields during periods of economic recovery, provided short-term rates remain low. And luckily for equity investors, the Federal Reserve will maintain its commitment to zero short-term interest rates however much the economy accelerates, because Fed officials see rapid growth as a natural and welcome development after five years of deep recession.
REUTERS
I think the US economy will grow by about 4%, much faster than the 2.5 to 3% predicted by the IMF and mainstream economic forecasts. My reasoning is simple. In the last reported quarter, the US economy was already growing by 4.1% and the private sector by 4.9%. With US budget battles now over and short-term interest rates firmly anchored at zero, there is no reason to expect a slowdown. If the U.S. accelerates to around 4%, so will global growth and 4% will replace 2% as the
2. The big financial trends of 2013 still have a long way to go.
While the gains of over 20% in major stock markets may not be repeated this year, equity prices in most of the world should continue rising - and bond prices continue falling. Stock market optimism seems justified for two reasons.
central
bankers have a very different worldview. They see rapid growth as a portent of inflation and will start hinting at tighter money as soon as economic conditions improve. The conflict between strong growth and easy money has already appeared in Britain. It will become a major political problem in 2014, because the improvement in economic activity depends entirely on a property boom that the Bank of England is trying (unsuccessfully) to deflate. As a result, sterling will continue to strengthen, central bank independence will come under pressure and the British economy will become ever more unbalanced, generating the worlds biggest trade deficit relative to GDP. In the euro zone, by contrast, economic conditions will remain feeble at
With the US accelerating to 4% and China growing steadily in the 7 to 8% range, emerging markets will come into their own as investors realize that most of these economies have more to gain from robust economic conditions and stronger commodity prices than they have to lose from slightly higher interest rates. There will, of course, be exceptions. Financial problems may intensify in countries with large trade deficits or political mismanagement, such as Turkey and perhaps Brazil. On the other hand, two major economies now treated as pariahs could do surprisingly well. In Russia, the recent release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky could signal a newfound respect for private property rights. And a nuclear deal with Iran could bring this potentially dynamic economy back into the civilized world, as well as transforming Middle East geopolitics. But at this point, I am probably getting too optimistic even for a New Year pipe dream. l
British reporting rule change exposes S&P 500 starts 2014 with a 2-day decline transatlantic cultural gap
n
Reuters
As investors prepare to digest the latest round of company earnings figures, Britains move to scrap the quarterly reporting requirement has revealed a divergence of opinion between the domestic and US investment communities. While British investors endorse what they perceive as a measure against short-termism, their counterparts across the Atlantic are concerned that less frequent company reports will mean less transparency. In a world of increasing financial regulation, Britain is bucking the trend by accelerating EU plans to relax the current reporting rules, which are especially onerous for small firms. A desire to not disappoint the markets, when you are speaking to the markets every three months, will inevitably lead to the business making short-term decisions to the detriment of long-term shareholders, said Kevin Murphy, a fund manager at Schroders, one of Britains biggest asset management companies. All eight British fund managers interviewed by Reuters for this article supported the rule change. Some corporate heavyweights have already made moves away from the treadmill of quarterly reporting. Germanys Porsche was involved in a high-profile dispute between 2001 and 2008 with Deutsche Boerse, operator of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, after refusing to comply with the requirement to issue quarterly reports. Paul Polman, CEO since 2009 of Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever, the seventh biggest firm on the London Stock Exchange, is a critic of what he calls quarterly capitalism. He has changed Unilevers reporting so that full bottom-line figures are given just twice per year. body, and the Financial Times, 20% of respondents said they would scrap the practice, while 23% said they would continue and 53% were undecided. The idea of scrapping quarterly reporting was put forward by economist John Kay in a 2012 review, which pressed for less short-termism in equity markets and was widely endorsed in Britain, both by parliamentarians and investors. But Kay said that US investors, who form the largest group of foreign shareholders in British companies, were less enthusiastic, worrying that this kind of deregulation could make companies more opaque. Though many in the United States agreed with Kay about the damage caused by the quarterly earnings cycle, the suggestion that the requirement might actually go is something that even many people who take that view look at with horror, he said. That horror just might deter companies with a strong US presence from changing their practices. And for the 26 British-listed companies with secondary US listings, which represent more than 2tn pounds ($3.2tn) on the London Stock Exchange, there may be extra pressure to meet quarterly reporting expectations, though they are not required to do so under US law. The notion that information disclosure is the answer to most problems is even more heavily ingrained, I think, in the US than it is here, Kay said.
Transparency
Relaxed rules
Under the newly relaxed rules companies could of course choose to continue issuing quarterly statements, but early signs suggest that many would stop. In a December poll of Britains 350 biggest companies by the ICSA, a trade
A man walks past the London Stock Exchange in the City of London
REUTERS
In the United States, companies have had to issue quarterly reports for decades, whereas the requirement was only formally introduced in Britain in 2007 as part of the EUs Transparency Directive. It is that directive which is currently being amended, as announced by the European Commission in June. Early this year the British government will bring in legislation to allow it to axe the quarterly reporting requirement ahead of the EUs November 2015 deadline. The European Commission said it wanted to encourage long-term investment but also to lessen the administrative burden for small- and medium-sized companies, for which the cost of regulatory compliance eats up a bigger slice of outgoings. The rule change might also encourage private companies to list shares for the first time. is part of the regulatory burden associated with listing which means that some companies that might otherwise consider equity finance might not do so, said Leo Ringer of the Confederation of British Industry. But it seems likely that firms with a large proportion of US investors will be wary of doing away with the practice. Sammy Simnegar of US asset manager Fidelity, 18% of whose billion-dollar International Capital Appreciation Fund is invested in British companies, said that the relaxation in reporting rules would impair the transparency that Britain is renowned for and would be a move in the wrong direction for companies. You dont want to be doing something that puts you one step behind, he said. You want to be best in class. l
After last years big party in the stock market, 2014 is starting off with a nagging hangover. The Standard & Poors 500 index edged a fraction of a point lower on Friday, beginning a year with a two-day losing streak for the first time since 2005. While few analysts expect 2014 to produce gains comparable to last years advance of nearly 30%, many see a moderate increase as the economy continues to improve and investors move funds out of bonds and into stocks, which are generating much bigger returns for investors. The market is trying to find some direction here, said Scott Wren, a senior equity strategist at Wells Fargo Advisors. Were in for a few days of trying to figure out whether we inch a little higher or see some down days.
The combination of financial healing, greater balance in the housing market, less fiscal restraint, and, of course, continued monetary accommodation bodes well for US economic growth in coming quarters
The S&P 500 index fell 0.61 points, or 0.03%, to 1,831.37 and was 0.5% lower for the week. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 28.64 points, or 0.2%, to 16,469.99. The Nasdaq composite fell 11.16 points, or 0.3%, to 4,131.91. General Motors was among the stocks that posted the biggest losses in the S&P 500. The automaker fell $1.38, or 3.4%, to $39.57 after reporting a US sale slump of more than 6% in December. Energy companies have also started the year with declines as the price of oil falls. On Friday, oil extended a weeklong skid by falling $1.48, or 1.6%, to $93.96 a barrel. A strengthening US economy drove the dollar higher, which hurts oil, and signs emerged of ample supply worldwide. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday predicted stronger
growth in 2014 and said that factors that have kept the economy from accelerating appear to be abating. The combination of financial healing, greater balance in the housing market, less fiscal restraint, and, of course, continued monetary accommodation bodes well for US economic growth in coming quarters, Bernanke said in comments to the annual meeting of the American Economic Association in Philadelphia. The encouraging economic backdrop is one reason for investors to remain positive about stocks, despite the slow start to the year, said Bill Barker, a senior portfolio analyst at Motley Fool Funds, which manages about $600m in stock mutual funds. As long as there is no inflation and a good economy, with low interest rates ... thats the kind of thing that stocks love, Barker said. Among the stock market winners on Friday was Delta Air Lines. The carriers stock jumped $1.53, or 5.5%, to $29.23 after a measure of its revenue for December rose 10%. Delta benefited from strong demand and the late Thanksgiving holiday. Analysts at S&P Capital IQ raised their earnings estimates for the carrier and boosted their recommendation on the stock to strong buy. Trading was muted Friday after a winter storm hit the U.S. Northeast. The governors of New York and New Jersey declared states of emergency and urged people to avoid travelling. Trading was quiet this week, before and after the New Years Day holiday on Wednesday. In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note was unchanged from Thursday at 2.99%. The yield on the note climbed from 1.76% last year to as high as 3% as investors sold bonds in an improving economy. Many analysts expect the yield to continue rising this year as the Federal Reserve reduces, or tapers, its stimulus. Depending on how quickly the Fed decides to taper, this could be a very bearish year for bonds, said Anna Rathbun, director of research at CBIZ, an investment and retirement consultant. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
es in the euro area are continuing to decline, new ECB data showed on Friday. Private sector loans dropped by 2.3% in November in a year-on-year comparison, after already contracting by 2.2% in October, the ECB calculated. The ECB already pumped more than 1tn euros ($1.3tn) into the banking system at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 to avert a potentially disastrous credit crunch. But the banks preferred to use the ultra-cheap cash to buy up sovereign bonds rather than lend it on to businesses and the ECB is considering ways of channelling the cash directly to businesses if it decides to open the liquidity gates once again. The governing council obviously agrees that with possible further steps the ECB wants to provide targeted support to the real economy. But there seem to be differences of opinion as to what is the most effective way to reach this target, said Loynes at Capital Economics. Berenberg Banks Schmieding said the weak credit data did suggest a possible credit crunch. However, companies are - on aggregate - in such a comfortable financial position that they can reduce their bank loans and increase their cash reserves at the same time. On aggregate, companies do not need credit at the moment, Schmieding suggested. The data on money and credit show that eurozone companies have the financial strength to increase their investment. The question is whether they will do so. Confidence in the future was key to investment and in the wake of the post-Lehman turbulences and the euro crisis, companies are more reluctant to invest than before, the expert argued. However, rising business confidence in the eurozone does suggest that business investment will pick up over the course of 2014. In Germany, this started in the spring of 2013 already. We expect more and more companies elsewhere to follow suit soon, Schmieding said. l
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NEWS IN BRIEF
Boeing machinists approve contract securing 777X jet
Boeings machinists on Friday narrowly approved a crucial labor contract that secured thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of economic activity for Washington State but will cost workers their pensions. The vote of 51% to 49% to accept the deal means Boeing Co will build its new 777X jetliner and wings in the Seattle area, where Boeing has built aircraft for more than 90 years. Reuters
A saleswoman displays a gold necklace at a jewellery showroom in Kolkata Imports fell 21 tonnes in November last year, from a record of 162 tonnes in May. Imports are expected to be 500-550 tonnes this year under the new import rule, trade body GJF has said. A little more than 20% is going for exporters, and a little less than 80% goes for domestic jewellers, said a dealer with a private bullion importing bank in Mumbai, who was not authorised to speak to media.
REUTERS
Our imports have been reasonable ... currently total imports should be around 20-25 tonnes, but once imports processes are streamlined, 30 tonnes a month will be the new norm, the dealer added. l
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
tional banks.
l Iran has adopted a complete Islamic banking system. l Turkey practices Islamic banking. But in its weird sense of modernism, the system is
concepts which are not allowed in the Middle East. The differences are rooted in the schools of thought (Madhab). l With an annual growth of 19% (in 2007 2011 period), global Islamic banking assets are forecasted to grow beyond $2 trillion in 2014. l Bangladeshi Islamic banking continues to beat conventional banking in annual growth for about a decade. rate value in return. An example of gambling is seen in insurance contracts. When we buy an insurance policy, we take a chance on an event (say death or disability) which, if materialised, will yield a far greater return that the price paid. The insurance company, on the other hand, is betting on the idea that the event will not come to pass. This way they gain without having to pay anything. Either way, one party gains while the other loses. Widespread usage of conventional financial mechanisms have repeatedly shown us how wealth is accumulated in the hands of a few. Take the recent global financial meltdown or the LIBOR manipulation scandal. Each of these events have been driven by the greed of individuals, where some have become extremely rich, whereas the general people have suffered. For practitioners of Islamic finance - accountability lies on shareholders, but more importantly to Allah. On the Day of Judgment (Qiymah) we have to answer for the wealth entrusted upon us all. If we have usurped the wealth of others, a severe punishment awaits us. We also need to pay Zakat out of our own wealth, to purify our hearts and our wealth from greed. Islamic financial institutes aspire to objectives greater than the accumulation of wealth. They aim for social stability and progress. An Islamic bank will look to invest in sectors with business potential. Islamic insurance companies will bring together people facing similar risks who mutually cover each other in times of distress. Islamic stock scrutiny will enable pious investors to avoid questionable industries and gain halal earnings on their investments. It will avoid certain industries such as tobacco, alcohol, casinos, weapons etc altogether. An Islamic financial system also plays a major role in wealth distribution through Zakat, Waqf etc. These are mechanisms designed to achieve a balance in society by transferring wealth from the rich to the poor. As we are well aware, the conventional financial system - with its capitalistic self serving objectives - does not have such social goals. How does Islamic finance benefit us over conventional finance? There are individual gains as well as social gains to be had in adopting Islamic finance. As an individual, you benefit by: l Avoiding interest, which has been strictly forbidden in Islam, and carry dire consequences if practiced. l Getting investment from banks if your business has good potential. l Contributing to social welfare by participating in Zakat in a proper manner. l Getting mutual coverage in takaful, which also promotes the spirit of brotherhood. l Earn returns in here (i.e. on your money) and the hereafter (i.e. on your good deeds). Society gains from Islamic finance because: l Zakat, Waqf etc are practiced regularly which ensures wealth distribution from rich to poor. l Productive and potential sectors get funding as investment assessment is based more on project viability than on ability to repay. l Non productive and value destroying sectors such as tobacco, casinos, weapons etc are demised over time l Fairness in transactions are achieved and contractual uncertainties are minimised. l No man-made Global Financial crisis or LIBOR manipulation.
Conventional financial institutions, theoretically, aim to serve individuals - mainly shareholders - and are run purely by profit motive. Their accountability lies to shareholders only
Dummy 1 Above was me, four years ago, trying to find a bit of information on Islamic finance. So I hit up a few Islamic banks to find out more. Surprisingly, I found that the people (Dummy 2) I asked were just as vague in their understanding as I was. Islamic finance. Islamic banking. Used generally in an interchangeable fashion. The general reaction to these words tend to be as follows: l Rubbish! You cannot link Islam with finance, as they are based upon completely opposite ideology. l I do not understand what it is about. I am also comfortable with conventional financial system. Islamic finance will not make much difference for me. l Islamic finance is the correct form of finance. Allah swt has forbidden interest and permitted trade. Islamic finance is financing based on profit sharing (mudaraba) or partnership (musharaka). Although the reactions vary, they originate from the same lack of understanding. As George W Bush might have said, this is a misunderestimated topic. My intention here is to briefly set the tone on Islamic finance, so the reader neither misunderstands nor underestimates Islamic Finance. What Islamic finance is Islamic finance deals with financial aspects in our day-to-day activities, and forms a very small part of Islamic law (Shariah). Islamic law intends to protect and preserve the basic necessities (darurriyat) of man, to prevent anarchy and chaos from corrupting society. They are: l Religion (Deen) l Life (Nafs) l Family (Nasl) l Intelligence (Aql) l Property (Maal)
invest using interest-free mechanisms, which is used by individuals as well as corporations. There are Islamically accepted modes of charging profit on investment, which will be the income for the bank. When investing in stocks, there will be certain screening mechanisms to filter stocks that abide by Islamic regulations. Apart from growth, wealth also need sto be transferred. For passing wealth to next of kin, there are estate planning laws (faraid) for distributing the wealth. Zakat is mandated on the rich, because the poor have a right on it. What Islamic finance is not Islamic finance is not something out of this world. People usually expect an Islamic financial product to be miraculously different, as they always want to know what is special about this. Take the meat from two cows for example - one sacrificed in an Islamic manner and the other electrocuted to death.
For practitioners of Islamic finance accountability lies to shareholders, but more importantly to Allah swt. On the day of judgment, we have to answer for the wealth entrusted upon us all
This is a very little understood area and should very much be promoted in all Islamic financial institutions. Can you differentiate between the end result - the beef? No, they look just the same. Likewise an Islamic savings account will look the same as a conventional savings account, but there are subtle differences - as there are in the beef - that make them halal or haram. Islamic finance is not just based on which may harm them in future, as well as raise disputes over the contract. An example of this is in the interest rate on loans, which are usually floating in nature and are subject to change. Gambling is a zero sum game where one party gains at the cost of another, and without providing a commensu-
Having said all that, let me reiterate that Islamic finance is a very broad subject. I have touched very briefly on the topic here, so that the reader gets some perspective into Islamic finance. Should opportunity permit, I will try to explain other concepts of Islamic finance in greater detail, and especially on the concept of riba. May Allah grant us the knowledge (ilm) to understand these topics and engage in Islamic finance in our daily financial transactions. l Afsar B Mahmud is a banker, who started his career in Islamic finance. He now pursues a degree (Chartered Islamic Finance Professional) in Islamic finance from the International Center for Education in Islamic finance.