Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.dhakatribune.com
SECOND EDITION
Avenue T | FOR THOSE YOUNG AT HEART 7 | OPENING A COMPANY IN BANGLADESH 12 | RAIMA ON SUCHITRA SEN
bers told the Dhaka Tribune: In the last two years, every opposition political programme was a success because of Jamaat- Shibirs participation. In fact, we rarely saw enough BNP activists joining 18-partys processions, demonstrations and rallies, he added. He said the government was trying to hamper the unity between the BNP and the Jamaat because they want to eliminate a strong opposition. A Shibir central working committee leader said, We know much better than BNP and Chhatra Dal about politics, and we know how to resist government oppression. Jamaat Working Committee member Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said: The government wants to divide our alliance so that it can rule the country as long as it wants. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that her government would hold talks with the BNP if the party severed ties with the Jamaat. In response,
PAGE 2 COLUMN 4
Children from four schools in Bandarban were made to queue for hours yesterday to welcome State Minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur. Story on Page 3
DHAKA TRIBUNE
HC asks for judicial probe report on 2001 post-poll violence n Nazmus Sakib
The High Court yesterday ordered the home secretary to submit within February 2, the judicial probe report into the attacks that were carried out on the minorities and the then opposition members following the eighth parliamentary elections on October 1, 2001. The court also issued a rule seeking an explanation by two weeks as to why it should not direct the government to make public the inquiry report. The bench comprising Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain passed the order yesterday in response to a petition lodged by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh. In 2009, the High Court bench led by Justice ABM Khairul Haque (who later became chief justice) ruled that a three-member judicial probe committee be formed to submit a detailed report on the attacks to the government by six months, and made the writ petition
PAGE 2 COLUMN 3
P3 IMMIGRATION ALERTED
As part of special drive, members of Detective Branch of police arrested three African citizens including two females on Wednesday with fake currency and equipment. On Sunday, DB police also arrested three members of the Pakistan-based militant group Tehrik-E Taliban from the capital. Of the arrestees, Fakrul Hassans visa was found to have expired while two of his accomplices Mehmood
PAGE 2 COLUMN 1
INSIDE
Business
B1 The government has sought a detailed legal suggestion from law ministry on a separate pay scale for Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks.
International
9 Delhis anarchist chief minister Arvind Kejriwal faced savage press criticism Wednesday after a two-day protest in the capital that could check the dizzying rise ofIndias new political star.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
n BSS
The government has identified six projects including the much-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge (PMB) as a fast track project and directed the authorities concerned to implement them with highest priority. The five other projects are Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project, Rampal Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant, Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Metro Rail Project), Sonadia Deep Seaport in Coxs Bazaar and Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Construction Project. The projects were identified at the first meeting of the reconstituted Fast Track Project Monitoring Committee held at the Prime Ministers Office last morning. Chairperson of the Committee Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. After the meeting, Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Bijan Lal Deb briefed reporters. He said the crucial meeting held a detailed discussion on the progress and future activities of the six projects. At the meeting, he said, the prime
minister directed the authorities concerned to execute the projects within the stipulated time. On the much-awaited Padma bridge project, she underscored the need for dredging of the river to check river erosion and run economic activities on the reclaimed lands, Deb said. On the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and Rampal Power Plant projects, Hasina said the government has given emphasis on producing electricity through multi-source power projects. She also mentioned that a process was underway to generate electricity on joint venture with India, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Environment Minister Anwar Hossain Monju, Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, Prime Ministers Adviser Moshiur Rahman, State Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman and State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu attended the meeting. l
Miscreants cut the tendons on arms and legs of UP Member and Awami League leader Nurjahan Begum of Mobarakpur union in Shibganj, Rajshahi, allegedly in reaction to the arrest of a local BNP leader DHAKA TRIBUNE
Jubo League man killed, Drive against Jamaat continues Jubo Dal leader hacked n
Tribune Report
Police recovered the body of a Jubo League supporter from a roadside ditch in Satkania upazila while a Jubo Dal leader was hacked by unknown miscreants in Sitakunda upazila in Chittagong yesterday. Upon information, police recovered the body of Mohammad Alamgir, 33, of Kanchana Adarsho Gram with several injury marks around 11am. They suspect that Jamat-Shibir activists might have killed him over a political feud. The body was sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for
post mortem examination. A case was lodged with Satkania police station. Meanwhile, unknown miscreants hacked ward 3 Jubo Dal joint convener Mamun Reza, 30, of Sobhanbagh in Godown Road area around 4pm. He was taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex but later shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said police sources. Iftekhar Hasan, OC of Sitakunda police station, said receiving information police had rushed to the spot and rescued Mamun. Police were looking into the matter but none was arrested in this connection yet, added the OC. l
Law enforcement agencies continued their drives throughout the country yesterday to arrest several Jamaat-e-Islam activists, while a mobile court also punished two Jamaat members on different charges. Our Barisal correspondent reported that the police arrested Abdul Alim, president of Jamaats Chandpura union unit, from the citys Baitul Mokarram Mosque area at around noon. Shakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said the police acted on a tip-off and arrested Alim during a raid at the residential unit of the mosque, recovering a huge number of anti-state leaflets, stickers, handbills
and books on Jihad. Alim would be shown arrested in a case of conspiracy against the state, he added. Elsewhere in Satkhira, our correspondent reported that a mobile court has handed different jail terms to two Jamaat-Shibir men at the towns Kaliganj area. Ali Azam, the OC of Kaliganj police station, said Hossain Dablu, 38, and Yehia Khan, 22, were arrested on Tuesday for their involvement in subversive activists. Executive Magistrate Faruk Ahmed later sentenced Dablu to two years and Yehia to one year in jail, the OC said, adding that both the men were sent to Satkhira jail in the evening. In Nilphamari, a Jamaat activist was held at Khalisha Chapani village under Dimla upazila yesterday afternoon.
The arrestee was Ajharul Islam, 35, a madrasa super of Sukandighi Dakhil Madrasa of the upazila. Mansun Ali, Sub-Inspector of Dimla police station, said police acted on a tip-off to detain Ajharul, who was accused of arson, looting of ballot materials and vandalising voting centres of the upazila on January 5. Our correspondent in Sirajganj also informed that the Detective Branch of the police arrested district Swechchhasebak Dal Vice-President Hasinur Rahman Hasi, 45, from Masumpur area. Nasir Uddin, inspector of district DB police, said Hasinur was arrested for obstructing police work, while he was also accused in eight cases filed with the districts police stations. l
mandamus so that any party could come to the court seeking direction in this regard. The plea was registered with the bench led by Justice Reza-Ul in light with the verdict of 2009 so that proper actions could be taken against the perpetrators, said Manzill Murshid, the lawyer of the petition. Also in 2009, the government formed a commission led by former district judge Md Shahabuddin to investigate the incidents. Later, the judicial commission handed over a probe
report on April 25, 2011 to the then home minister Sahara Khatun. Manzill told the court that if the probe report was made public and proper punitive action was taken against the perpetrators, the recent attack on the minorities after tenth general poll of January 5 might not have taken place. Deputy Attorney General Biswojit Roy represented the government yesterday. The same bench on January 15 directed the law enforcers to give protection to the minorities and vulnerable groups across the country. l
founder and military leader Ziaur Rahman. The murder case was filed in 1995 and the charge sheet was submitted to the court the same year. The trial related to the Major General Abul Manzoor murder case, filed 17 years ago, is being delayed as the prosecution has delayed in presenting its arguments. According to the trial documents, 28 out of 49 witnesses, including Investigation Officer Abdul Kahar Akand, testified before the court. On June 2012, the court completed
prosecution witnesses. The court had previously granted bail to all of the accused. On February 28, 1995, barrister Abul Monsoor Ahmed, brother of slain Abul Manzoor, lodged a case with Panchlaish police station in Chittagong accusing Major Emdadul of killing Manzoor. On July 15, the then assistant police super Abdul Kahar Akand, submitted the charge sheet to the court. The then army chief Abu Saleh Md Nasim and metropolitan judge Abul Hashem gave testimony before the court on October 28, 2010. l
and Usman had no passport and visas. Last month, Rapid Action Battalion officials arrested 37 foreign nationals from a resident of the capitals Uttara area with huge VOIP equipment. Rab officials think these foreign nationals are committing crimes staying illegally in the country for years. Besides, a large number of Rohingyas are living in Coxs Bazar, Chittagong, Bandarban and Khagrachari illegally for years. No substantial steps have yet been taken against them. For this reason, the Home Ministry has been planning to take action against them in a bid to strengthen security of the country and collect some revenues.
Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police, told the Dhaka Tribune there were a number of foreign nationals living illegally in the capital and other parts of the country, and the number of African citizens was quite large. Intelligence officials are keeping eye on their activities and movement. Intelligence sources said a special monitoring team in collaboration with the Finance Ministry had already been formed to check the financial transaction of the foreign nationals in a bid to learn whether any of them was providing financial support to criminal activities in Bangladesh. Sources also said the intelligence officials were also verifying the activities of those foreign nationals doing jobs in the
country without any work permit and not giving any tax to the government. It was learnt that the visas of around 13,000 foreign nationals had already expired. They entered Bangladesh as tourists and are living in the country illegally. Foreign nationals, who have come under investigation, belong to India, Nigeria, Ghana, Kanga, Cameron, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Algeria, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Sri Lanka. Of them, a large number of Pakistan and Afghan nationals are involved in criminal activities, and Rab officials have already arrested 250 African and Pakistani citizens in the last three years. l
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia spoke at several media interviews claiming that the BNP would cut ties with Jamaat at the right time. Pointing to PMs suggestion one of Jamaats central leaders Rezaul Karim said it was a matter of BNP and Jamaat, not that of the government. Since the alliance began its street movement last year, Jamaat activists have allegedly perpetrated a great amount of violence across the country. After national election on January 5, Jamaat-Shibir was accused of attacking Hindu community members in several areas. The European Parliament adopted a resolution on January 17, urging the
BNP to distance itself from the Jamaat. The EU Parliament stressed that parties which turn to terrorist acts should be banned. On January 20, for the first time since the emergence of the BNP-led 18-party alliance, the BNP held a public rally alone yesterday in Dhaka, apparently keeping its distance from the Jamaat. However, Jamaat leaders told the Dhaka Tribune their men had participated in the rally, but without the usual banners and festoons demanding the release of their leaders who were convicted for war crimes. This was part of their strategy, they said, but refused to disclose any further details. l
500 times over the past five years. His income was only Tk3.01lakh in 2008, but was Tk15.46 crore in 2013. Aslamul Haques six acres of land turned into 145 acres over five years. Enamul Haques annual income was Tk20 lakh from his salary and allowances, now makes nearly Tk50 lakh from agriculture, rented properties and other businesses. His wife owns Tk8.34 crore in movable property, up from Tk 2.89 crore in 2008. Abdul Jabbars wealth information was not immediately available. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The authorities on Jan 14 served notices to the ninth parliament MPs, who failed to get elected in the Jan 5 polls, to vacate their flats by Jan 30
At present the 10th parliament exists, not the ninth parliament as the MPs have taken oath, ASM Feroz, the whip of the ninth parliament, told the Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday. I have stopped using the flag since I have become an MP of the 10th parliament. I am no longer a whip of the ninth parliament, he said. Senior Awami League MP Suranjit Sengupta and barrister Rafiq-ul-Haque at a discussion at a private TV channel agreed that the oath-taking by the 10th parliament MPs had terminated the ninth parliament.
A woman looks at the remains of her home which was gutted in a fire yesterday in Chittagongs Nahar Monjil Colony
DHAKA TRIBUNE
The authorities on January 14 served notices to the ninth parliament MPs, who failed to contest or get elected in the January 5 polls, to vacate their flats by January 30. The newly elected MPs are asking for flats. So, the honourable MPs not re-elected in the 10th parliament must vacate the apartments, Syed Ahmed, an additional secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. He said some of the outgoing MPs belonging to the Awami League had requested the parliament authorities to extend the deadline by 15 more days. Some 171 members of the ninth parliament were re-elected to the 10th parliament. l
Immigration alerted BNP: Nothing seditious in Khaledas speech DEMANDING BRIBE about entry of involvement of outsiders with the joint ings were increasing day by day, and said: HC suspends 35-year jail Mohammad Al-Masum Molla n Ten bodies were found in the last 10 forces operation in Satkhira district. Pakistanis On Tuesday, Syed Ashraf gave a 24- days while 187 leaders and activists were The BNP has claimed that party Chairsentence for SP person Khaleda Zias recent speech on hour ultimatum to the BNP chairperson forcefully disappeared and 227 were n Rabiul Islam local police station asking for security. government law enforcers drives did for withdrawing Mondays statement killed in the last three months. Three n Nazmus Sakib But after their arrival at the police The home ministry has directed immi- not contain any comment that was tanta- that affected the credibility of the bodies were found in Nilphamari who
gration authorities to be more cautious when checking documents of Pakistani nationals entering the country. The directive comes following a recent intelligence report that a section of Pakistani nationals may be carrying out acts of violence in Bangladesh. The order, signed by deputy home secretary Md Habibur Rahman, was sent to the Directorate of Passport and Immigration on January 15. A senior home ministry official said such a step was taken so that hostile elements cannot come into the country. We have no intention to make poor relations with any country, but we cannot allow any foreign national to carry out terrorism in our country, Kamal Uddin Ahmed, additional secretary (political) of the home ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. The law enforcing agencies were closely monitoring the movement of a section of Pakistani nationals who may be planning to carry out terrorist acts in the country, Kamal added. On Sunday night, the detective branch of police arrested three Pakistanis outside Dhakas Shilpakala Academy and seized bomb-making manuals and training methodologies from their possession. The men, identified as Usman, 23, and Fakrul Hasan, 50, of Kourangi district, and Mehmud, 26, of Malir district, are suspected to be trained members of Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, a Pakistan-based terrorist group. Two separate cases were filed against the suspects with Ramna police station under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009 and Foreign Act-1964. l mount to being seditious. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, made the claim at a press briefing in BNPs Nayapaltan headquarters yesterday, ahead of the end of the 24-hour ultimatum set by Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam for Khaleda to withdraw her comment. Syed Ashraf does not have his facts clear. There was nothing seditious in Khaleda Zias speech. He lied to mislead the people, Fakhrul told journalists at the briefing, where many BNP leaders, who had recently been in hiding, were also present. At a rally in the capital on Monday, Khaleda Zia said: It is difficult to believe that our law enforcers have conducted such violent drives against their own countrymen. She also hinted the countrys law enforcers. LGRD Minister Syed Ashraf also said: Khaleda delivered a similar speech related to the crackdown on Satkhira Jamaat-Shibir members that the daily Inqilab had reported. The newspaper authority has since apologised for its false report. However, Khaleda still has not apologised. She has to withdraw her statement immediately, otherwise the government would make necessary steps, he added. Meanwhile, Fakhrul also alleged that the government has made all sorts of arrangements to destroy the countrys democracy. The spokesperson claimed that the ruling party was moving forward with a plan to eradicate the BNP by bringing allegations of violence against the opposition party. Fakhrul alleged that extrajudicial killwere accused of attacks on Asaduzzaman Noors motorcade. Demanding neutral investigation into these incidents, Fakhrul urged the rights bodies to come forward for probing the incidents. It [extrajudicial killings] happens when there is no rule of law in the country. People having differences in opinion were killed in this way, which is a threat for democracy. The BNP leader claimed that real democracy was dead and the funeral procession of democracy had started from January 5. In the briefing, partys Standing Committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Joint Secretary General Amanullah Aman, Mizanur Rahman, and Member Secretary of Dhaka city unit BNP Abdus Salam were present. l The High Court yesterday suspended a sentence of 35 years imprisonment for Superintendent of Police Mostafa Kamal in a case filed for demanding Tk50 lakh in bribe from the SA Paribahan proprietor in December 2002. The bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed also granted the police official bail as an appeal had been lodged against the sentence pronounced by Dhaka Special Judge Court 3. According to the statement of the case filed on November 20, 2003, SA Paribahan owner Salauddin Ahmed and staff members of his office were going to Sylhet by a private car on December 22, 2002 with a bag of Tk 20 lakh. A team of Habiganj police halted their car, seized the money and asked them to lodge a general diary with the
station, the then SP Mostafa Kamal ordered the policemen on duty to detain Salauddin and his officials and filed a money laundering case against them. The SP and Inspector (now retired) Wahid Miah also demanded Tk50 lakh from the SA Paribahan Head Office in exchange for their release. In his verdict on December 19 last year, Judge Md Motahar Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court 3 acquitted the inspector and sentenced SP Mostafa, who is now posted at Syedpur Railway. The court also fined Mostafa Tk30 lakh, defaulting which he will have to spend another year in jail. Supreme Court lawyer Rokanuddin Mahmud contended for the police officer while Deputy Attorney General Khandaker Diliruzzaman represented the state. l
4
n Aminur Rahman Rasel
Prices of 12kg cylinders of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) saw a Tk100-150 increase in local markets following a price hike in the international market and pipeline gas crisis in Dhaka city and adjacent areas, industry insiders said. Private traders said the price of per tonne LP gas was $1,250 in October 2013, but it rose to $1,400 in November. The price of LPG in the international market generally goes up in winter as its demand increases, TOTALGAZ Bangladesh General Manager Mujibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is imported to Asia mainly from different parts of Middle East. We are selling 12kg cylinders to dealers at Tk1,500. Dealers sell the cylinders at different rates to retailers, Petredec Elpiji Ltd General Manager Md Saidul Islam told the Dhaka tribune. While a residential user has to pay a maximum of Tk450 a month for a 24-hour-gas supply through pipelines, a 12.4 -12.5 KG cylinder LPG cylinder now costs around Tk1, 650-1,700. The cylinders are available from
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The three arrested African citizens in front of DMP media centre yesterday
Arguments in Ramna blast case on Four people killed February 3, witness deposition ends n
Tribune Report
WEATHER
n UNB
Weather may remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country until 6pm today. Moderate to thick fog may occur over the country during night till morning, Met Office said. Night and day temperature may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The sun sets in the capital at 5:38pm today and rises at 6:42am tomorrow. Countrys highest temperature 31.4 degrees Celsius was recorded yesterday in Sitakunda and lowest 10.0 degrees in Ishwardi. Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar High 28.2 29.2 24.8 26.4 23.5 26.4 30.7 29.8 Low 12.5 15.0 10.8 13.0 11.8 12.6 13.5 16.2
of 61 prosecution witnesses including investigation officer Abu Hena Md Yusuf out of 84 in the case. A powerful blast during the traditional celebrations of Bangla New Year 1408 (April 14, 2001) claimed the lives of 10 people and left 50 others wounded at Ramna Batamul in the capital. Following the incident two cases, one for murder and the other under the Explosive Substances Act, were filed with Ramna police station. Seven years after the incident, investigators were able to link the militant organisation Harkat-ul Jihad AlIslami (HuJi) to the blast. On Nov 29, 2008, CID inspector Abu Hena Mohammad Yusuf, the sixth investigating officer to work on the case, pressed charges in court against 14 ac-
cused, and showed 84 people as prosecution witnesses. The court framed charges on April 16, 2009 against HuJi chief Mufti Abdul Hannan and his 13 associates. Seven of the accused; Mufti Hannan, Arif Hasan Sumon, Shahadat Ullah Jewell, Hafez Maulana Abu Taher, Maulana Abdur Rauf, Maulana Sabbir Hossain, Moulana Yahiya and Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid; were produced before the court yesterday while Moulana Akbar Hossain, now on bail, was also present. Five others; Moulana Tajuddin brother of BNP leader Abdus Salam Pintu, Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar, Maulana Abu Bakar, Mufti Shafikur Rahman and Mufti Abdul Hai; are absconding. l
Four people were killed in separate incidents in Lalmonirhat, Narayanganj, Jhenaidah and Faridpur yesterday. Of the victims, two were school students and one was an infant, report our correspondents. In Lalmonirhat, a schoolboy was found dead in Char Kurul of Dharla River in village Mogholhat yesterday. The dead Rayhan Islam, 13, was a student of class eight at Kurigram Government High School. Rayhan was kidnapped from Rowmari para area in Kurigram town on January 18, said the police. The boy was strangled to death on Monday night and the dead body was thrown into sand hole in the char on the night. The boy's alleged killer Shamim Rahman Sagar, 18, was arrested in this connection. Earlier, the kidnappers took Tk3 lakh as ransom from the victims father and after receiving the money they killed the boy, said Ershadul Haque, father of the victim. In Narayanganj, a school student named Jahidur Rahman was killed in Sonargaon upazila. Jahidur was a student of class VII of Kachpur Omor Ali High School. Family members said Jahidur had been missing since Tuesday and he was killed because they could not give the ransom money demanded
by the kidnappers. Police recovered the body of Jahidur at 11am. The throat of the boy was slit and packed up in a sack from an embankment of Sadipur union under Sonargaon upazila. Officer-in-Charge of Sonargaon police station Atiqur Rahman said another student of the same school named Shakil was also missing, he added. In Jhenaidah, a two years old girl was strangled to death allegedly by her mother at Solaimanpur village under Kotchandpur upazila. The kid was Sumaya Khatun, 2, and the mother was Rafeza Khatun of Solaimanpur village. Sirajul Islam, a neighbour, said Rafeza was a mentally challenged woman. Kotchandpur police station Officerin-Charge Mizanur Rahman said Rafeza killed her daughter with a pillow and they arrested Rafeza. A case was filed with Kotchandpur police station. The body was sent to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital morgue for post mortem examination, OC said. In Faridpur, a driver was found dead at his rented house at village Algi under Bhanga upazila early yesterday. The dead was Rubel Sheik, 25, of village Heraldi under the same upazila. Sub-inspector Lyakot of Bhanga police station said they suspected that Rubel might have been killed and they arrested Pinki, wife of the deceased. l
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:24am 6:42am 12:10am 4:02pm 5:38pm 6:57pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
A guest speaks in memory of former chief justice Habibur Rahman at a condolence meeting organised by Nagarik Committee in the National Shaheed Minar yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
5
35 brick kilns, two wheat factories sued in Chittagong
The Chittagong court yesterday sued a total of 35 brick kilns and two wheat factories on charges of producing, trading and distributing of goods without maintaining quality measures. A press release of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) in Chittagong said the BSTI lodged a case with the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate against 23 kilns and two wheat factories at Fatikchhari upazila, 11 kilns at Lohagara upazila and one kiln at Satkania upazila. Showkat Osman, one of the deputy directors of BSTI in Chittagong, said they conducted a drive at 50 kilns and at several wheat factories in three upazilas to check the quality measures. During the drive they found that the 37 organisations brick kilns and wheat factories had no legal papers, while they were not following the instructions for maintaining the quality of production, sale and distribution of goods. l
The duties of the post were carried out by teachers and mid-level officials in different times under the post of acting registrar, breaching the universitys rules
On Sunday, CU Vice-Chancellor Professor Anwarul Azim Arif appointed the universitys chief engineer Md Alamgir Chowdhury as the acting registrar. Md Alamgir Chowdhury, who had been the universitys chief engineer on a contractual appointment, will now hold both of the posts for the time. Sources in the universitys administration said the recent appointment has triggered anger among the universitys teachers and officials. Earlier, Professor Dr Safiul Islam from the Institute of Forestry and Environmental Science, has stepped down from the post of acting registrar, showing personal reasons. Professor Safiul said: I have resigned because I want to get involved with academic activities again. He further added that he found it very uncomfortable to keep away from teaching students. Administrative sources said, a total of 16 persons served the university as registrar since its inception in 1966,
A mobile court led by Razzakul Islam, upazila nirbahi officer of Poba, conducts a drive at Shyampur char in Rajshahi yesterday and set three dredging machines on fire following the publication of a photo in the Dhaka Tribune on Tuesday about illegal sand lifting from the Padma River by influential quarters DHAKA TRIBUNE
NU teacher suspended
n Tribune Report
An aspirant government primary teacher speaks at a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday, demanding job regularisation
NASHIRUL ISLAM
The authorities of National University have temporally suspended Dr Md Saleh Uddin, a lecturer of Islami Studies Department of the university, be-
cause of his imprisonment. The matter was disclosed through a press release sent by Director (acting) of Public Relations ad Information and Consultation Directory of the institution yesterday. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
er that misplaced the earth underneath the dyke. Local administration and inhabitants expressed concern over the Water Development Board (WDB) officials reluctance to repair the embankment. Even recurrent repairs to the dyke cost Tk200crore for the last couple of years have failed to control disaster. The WDB has taken up a Tk80-crore project titled Water Management Improvement Project with the support of the World Bank, Nederlands
Government and the Government of Bangladesh. The objective of the project is to fill up the bottom of the embankment with 1,23,450 cubic metres of rock to strengthen the dyke. The rock were supposed to be imported from abroad or brought from the rock mine of Moddopara area in Dinajpur district. Local contractor MA Munim Ltd was awarded the tender, but the company clearly fell behind the deadline. Local and WDB sources said only
one-third portion of rock was brought till yesterday which had been stored beside the dyke and only three decimal of the embankments bottom had been filled with the stones so far. Although the renovation deadline had been extended to next April 30, the WDB officials were uncertain about finishing the work within the stipulated time. Executive Engineer Sajedur Rahman, who had been recently transferred, sent a letter to the higher officials concerned, alleging that lack of manpower,
equipment, experience were a bar to speeding up the project work. Sub-divisional Engineer of WDB Rafiqul Alam Chowdhury said the WB had not entrusted BRE with the responsibility and so it was not interested in the project. The project team leader Drubo Kumar met journalists Monday noon, but Akhtaruzzaman of the contractor company allegedly forbade him to talk anything about the renovation project. Nurul Amin, WDB executive engi-
neer, said: The construction has been going on at a snails pace because of lack of rock. We have nothing to do in this matter. Water Development Board Chief of Taskforce Tofayel Ahmed said, MA Munim Ltd has no experience of construction work. Basically, it is the contractor company for Roads and Highways department. The renovation had been delayed because the inexperienced company had been tasked with the responsibility, he added. l
Prime Ministers Ofce Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) Executive Engineer (Civil), Mongla EPZ. Bagerhat Works 03.371.007.01.00.455.2010 Date: 15.01.2014 Open Tendering Method (OTM) Self nance of BEPZA Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable On or before January 28, 2014 February 18, 2014 During ofce hour February 19, 2014 at 12:00 PM February 19, 2014 at 3.00 PM Accounts section, Mongla EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat. (i) Ofce of the Divisional Commissioner, Khulna. (ii) Ofce of the Deputy Commissioner, Bagerhat. (i) Executive Engineer (Civil), Mongla EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat. (ii) Ofce of the Divisional Commissioner, Khulna. (iii) Ofce of the Deputy Commissioner, Bagerhat. Executive Engineer (Civil), Mongla EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat.
Procurement method FUNDING INFORMATION Budget and source of funds Development Partners (if applicable) PARTICULAR INFORMATION
10 Project/Programme Code (if applicable) 11 Project/Programme Name (if applicable) 12 Tender Package No. 13 Tender Package Name 14 Tender Publication Date 15 Tender Last Selling Date 16 Tender Submission Date & Time 17 Tender Opening Date & Time 18 Name & Address of the ofcer(s) Selling of Tender Document (principal) Selling of Tender Document (others) Receiving of Tender Document Opening of Tender Document 19
Place/DatelTimie of Pre-Tender meeting Not applicable (Optional) INFORMATION FOR Tenderer The invitation for tender is open to all eligible tenderers who satisfy the following: (a) The Tenderer must have successful completion experience of at least 01 (one) building construction work including sanitary, water supply, electrical works for a single work amounting not less than Tk. 124.00 lac during last 5(ve) years in Govt./Semi-Govt./Autonomous Bodies. The work completion certicates shall have to be issued by the Ofcer not below the rank of Executive Engineer or equivalent Ofcer of concern Department/Organization. (b) In case of JVC / JVCA eligibility and other conditions are shown in Tender Data Sheet (TDS) of tender documents. (c) The required minimum average annual construction turnover is Tk. 635.00 lac. Which will be based on work completion certicates. (d) The required minimum liquid asset is Tk. 124.00 lac. (e) Black listed 1 debarred bidders from any Govt./Semi-Govt./Autonomous organization will be treated as ineligible to participate in the Tender. (f) Up-to-date trade license, Income Tax clearance certicate, VAT registration certicate, valid A,B,C category electrical contractors and supervisory license from electricity licensing board, Government of Bangladesh. (g) Other required conditions and documents of the tenderer are shown in Tender Data Sheet (TDS) of tender documents must be fullled. (h) All other criteria will be taken according to the Public Procurement Act-2006 and its amendment. Dismantling, RCC work, MS work, Brick work, Aluminum windows, Tiles, painting, Sanitary and plumbing works, Electrical works etc. TK. 2,500.00 Location Tender Security Amount (Tk.) (In favor of BEPZA) Tk. 6,80,000.00 Completion Time 210 days
20
Eligibility of Tenderer
21 Brief description of related works 22 Price of Tender Documents 23 SI. no Identication of lot i.
Two trucks collided as both drivers could not see vehicles coming from opposite direction. Later, another truck turned turtle on the road after hitting them and fell below the bridge at about 7:15am
Officer-in-charge of Banpara highway police outpost Masud Parvez said two trucks collided as both drivers could not see vehicles coming from opposite direction. Later, another truck turned turtle on the road after hitting them and fell below the bridge at about 7:15am. Truck driver Selim Reja, 35, son of Mozammel Haque of Chapainawab-
Construction of 3rd oor of Mongla EPZ, Standard Factory Building # 01 at Mongla, Bagerhat. Mongla EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat. Md. Abdul Matin Miea Executive Engineer/Civii Mongla EPZ, Mongla, Bagerhat.
PROCURING ENTITY DETAILS 24 Name of Ofcial Inviting Tender 25 Designation of Ofcial Inviting Tender 26 Address of Ofcial Inviting Tender 27 Contract Details of Ofcial Inviting Tender 28 Special Instruction: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Eligible rms 1 authorized representative may purchase tender documents from the ofces mentioned in SN-18 on submitting written request in their letter head pad. Any false, forget and miss leading documents furnished by Tenderer shall result in rejection of the Tender. In case of any confusion arises due to printing mistake or other reason, the Public Procurement Rules-2008 will govern. Tender should be submitted original along with one duplicate copy and it should be mentioned on the cover sheet. Tender shall be valid for a period of 120 days from the date of opening the Tender(s). The tender notice is also available at web site: www.cptu.gov.bd of Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) and www.epzbangladesh.org.bd of BEPZA
29 The procuring entity reserves the right to accept any or reject all the Tenders or annul the Tender Proceedings. (Md. Abdul Matin Miea) Executive Engineer (Civil) Tel. :04662-75195.
DG 07/14 (16x4c)
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Juris
7
JURIS QUOTE
LAW CARTOON
BIG STOCK
n Md Raziur Rahman
f you are an entrepreneur and hoping to start your own business, you need to register your firm under the Companies Act, 1994. Here is a general guideline for new entrepreneurs who want to get their company registered in Bangladesh.
The Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC) is the regulatory authority which facilitates formation of companies and firms. The body is also responsible for keeping track of all ownership related issues as prescribed by the laws in Bangladesh. The Registrar is the head of the office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, Bangladesh.
The search for the availability of a company name was computerised in 2003. After checking that the proposed company name is available for registration, the entrepreneur has to apply for name clearance through RJSC website. RJSC provides name clearance for one of the proposed names upon satisfaction that it does not closely match or resembles with any of the names that have already been taken. The status of the application can be checked online and is usually accepted or rejected within one working day. If accepted, the company name is reserved for six months. A print out of the name clearance certificate must be submitted to the RJSC, along with the other required documents for incorporation.
Memorandum and Articles of Association, the fee is Tk200 per document): Tk1,200 l For an authorised share capital of up to Tk20,000, the fee is Tk360. l An additional fee of Tk180 is applicable for every Tk10,000 or part from the first Tk20,000 up until Tk50,000 l An additional fee of Tk45 is applicable for every Tk10,000 or part from the first Tk50,000 up until Tk1,000,000
Types of companies
There are many types of business entities. So, before you start the process of registering your firm, you need to make sure what kind of a company you are going to open. RJSC deals with the following types of entities: l Private companies l Public companies l Foreign companies l Trade organizations l Societies, and l Partnership firms
One has to pay adhesive stamp fees at a designated bank. Payment can be made to the designated bank accounts of the Treasury. Previously all the fees were supposed to be deposited only in selected branches of Sonali Bank. RJSC has now allowed one of the leading private sector banks with extensive national coverage ie BRAC Bank to collect fees. For an authorised share capital of up to Tk1,000,000, the total stamp duty fees are Tk2,500. These include Tk2,000 for affixing stamps on the Articles of Association, and Tk500 for stamps on the Memorandum of Association.
In order to start business operations, every company must register for taxes at the appropriate taxation authority (Deputy Commission of Taxes of Company Circle, Zonal Taxation Department) under the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and obtain a tax identification number.
For VAT purposes, companies register with the Customs, Excise, and VAT Commission under the National Board of Revenue. The companys VAT is regulated by the Customs, VAT and Excise Department of the region in which it operates.
NOTICE BOARD
Send us queries for
RJSC accords registration and ensures lawful administration of the entities under the provisions of applicable act as under: Companies and trade organisations: Companies Act, 1994 (Amendment of Companies Act, 1913) l Societies: Societies Registration Act, 1860 l Partnership Firms: Partnership Act, 1932
l
Name Clearance
This is a pre-requisite for registration of a new company (other than Foreign Company) or a society or a trade organisation.
To register a company, the following documents must be submitted to the registrar: l Name clearance certificate l Memorandum and Articles of Association l Form I (Declaration on the registration of the company) l Form VI (Notice of the registered office) l Form IX (Consent to act as directors) l Form X (The list of persons consenting to act as directors) l Form XII (Particulars of the directors, managers, and managing agents) l Proof of payment (ie receipt from the designated bank) for Treasury Stamps
Companies have to obtain a trade licence from the city corporation. Recently, Dhaka City Corporation has been divided into two zones: the North Zone and the South Zone. The proposed company will have to file its application at the nearest city corporation office.
FR Tower, 8/c Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka- 1207 Visit our website at: www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
Dhaka Tribune
Now RJSC has four offices in Bangladesh. The head office is situated in Dhaka and three divisional offices are located in Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. l The writer is a lecturer of law at Deffodil International University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
he right to freedom of expression upholds the rights of all to express their views and opinions freely. Undoubtedly, in the technological era freedom of expression became a basic foundation of democracy and can be considered as one of the most fundamental aspects of all kinds of freedom. However, there may be some extreme forms of expression which need to be curtailed for the protection of human rights of others. Because in the course of exercising fundamental rights one cannot infringe or abuse right of others. Hence, our constitution guaranteed this right namely freedom of thought, conscience and of speech under article 39. However, recently government has made an amendment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act of 2006 which may cause a big threat to the freedom of expression which is one of the fundamental rights of the citizens. The amended act authorises the police to arrest any person without warrant, and increases the punishment of convicts minimum seven years to maximum 14 years imprisonment. Previously in the original ICT Act of 2006 the maximum punishment was 10 years and police had to seek permission
from the authorities to file a case and to arrest any person under this act. Most importantly, one of the harsh provisions of this amended act is that the crime under this act is non-bailable. With regard to the current ICT Act most of the experts argued that the government through this amendment further blackened an existing exploitative law. A constitutional expert Dr Shahdeen Malik urged the government to remove section
With regard to the current ICT Act most of the experts argued that the government through this amendment further blackened an existing exploitative law
57 of the ICT Act saying that the clause will take the country towards the medieval age (The Daily Star, September 7, 2013). Further, the unclear wordings of section 57(1) of the act may create possibility of abuse by the distinct authorities. For example, this section clearly failed to spell out the nature of the information which will tend to deprave or corrupt persons. Moreover this act does not contain any clear
provision as regards publication of information and the type of information that may degrade and distort others while Right to Information Act, 2009 has recognised the freedom of expression as an important fundamental right of the citizens (Preamble of RTI Act, 2009). Thus, at the outset it can be said that section 57 of the ICT (Amendment) Act, 2013 is in conflict with the provision of article 39 of the constitution which guarantees the right of freedom of speech and expression. Secondly, we must say that the provision of the detention without any warrant is in conflict with the article 43 which guarantees the
BIGSTOCK
right to privacy. Therefore, as per the article 7(2) of the constitution section 57 should be declared void as article 7(2) of the constitution stipulates that, This constitution is, as the solemn expression of the will of the people, the supreme law of the Republic, and if any other law is inconsistent with this Constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void. To conclude, I must say that we all have to raise our voice against such provision which is totally absurd and ridiculous. Otherwise democracy cannot exist as freedom of expression lies at the heart of democracy. At any time this law may be used against us in the name of preventing cyber crimes. And we all need to remember that free speech and expression is a basic and valuable characteristic of a democratic society which can never be undermined. l The writer is a student at Department of Law, BRAC University. Email: Mhr25@student.london.ac.uk.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
Reuters, Montreux
Syrias government and opposition, meeting face to face for the first time at a UN peace conference, angrily spelled out their hostility on Wednesday as world powers also restated contrasting views on the future of President Bashar al-Assad. Opposition leader Ahmed Jarba accused Assad of war crimes that recalled Nazi Germany and demanded the Syrian government delegation at the oneday meeting in Switzerland immediately sign up to an international plan for a transition of power. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid alMoualem insisted Assad would not bow to outside demands and painted a graphic picture of terrorist rebel atrocities supported by Arab and Western states who back the opposition and were present in the room. The United States and Russia, co-sponsors of the conference which UN officials hope can launch further negotiations at Geneva, also revealed their differences over Assad in speeches that began what will be a day of formal presentations. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who exchanged sharp words with Moualem when the Syrian minister spoke for more than three times the 10-minute limit Ban had set, opened proceedings at Montreux on Lake Geneva by calling for immediate access to humanitarian aid for areas under siege. After nearly three painful years of
Syria peace conference opens with rifts over Assad Regional nations approve military force n for South Sudan
n AFP, Nairobi
East African nations have approved a 5,500-strong military force for wartorn South Sudan to end weeks of bitter fighting that has devastated the young nation, Kenyas foreign minister said Wednesday. Thousands have been killed and half amn civilians forced to flee the fighting between troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels allied to his sacked deputy Riek Machar. The Security Council within IGAD has already adopted a resolution allowing 5,500 troops into South Sudan. Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed told reporters, referring to the seven-member Intergovernmental Authority on Development. IGAD is mediating deadlocked talks in Ethiopia between the warring parties, to end a conflict in which the United Nations says atrocities have been committed, including mass killings, sexual violence and widespread destruction. Uganda, an IGAD-member, has already sent troops to South Sudan on its own and taken a key role in the fighting in support of Kiir. Rebel chief Machar has demanded Kampala withdraw all forces, claiming Ugandan fighter jets have tried to kill him, and has questioned the neutrality of IGAD as a mediator. It was not clear what role an IGAD force would play or if Ugandan troops would be part of it but a draft cessation of hostilities deal seen by AFP proposes an IGAD-led team to monitor the proposed deal on the ground. Mohamed said that Kenya which deployed troops in South Sudan to help evacuate citizens trapped in the fighting has been approached to send in troops as part of the force. Some countries have already agreed to send troops, others are considering, Mohamed said, initially saying Kenya would be willing to take part, but then later saying a decision had yet to be made. The draft IGAD ceasefire accord presented to peace delegates meeting in Addis Ababa, notes the scale of human suffering... with great loss of human life, since fighting broke out on December 15. It also specifically highlights that both sides must refrain from attacking civilians, including summary executions, use of child soldiers as well as rape, sexual abuse and torture. l
Syrias Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem leads his delegation at the opening of the Geneva-2 peace conference in Montreux REUTERS conflict and suffering in Syria, today is a day of fragile but real hope, Ban said, urging both sides to reach a comprehensive settlement based on the UN Geneva Communique, under which world powers called in 2012 for a transitional government to oversee change in Syria. Great challenges lie ahead but they are not insurmountable, he added. Western powers and Russia have sought to set aside their own sharp differences over whether Assad must be forced to make way for an interim administration and have backed the conference as a way to stop the spread of communal and sectarian violence spreading across the region. Moscow and Washington differ, however, over whether the 2012 accord - known as Geneva 1 - means that Assad must step down immediately. Western powers say that it does. The new conference, known as Geneva 2, has raised no great expectations, particularly among Islamist rebels who have branded Western-backed opposition leaders as traitors for even agreeing to be in the same room as Assads delegates. Showing the oppositions determination to see through the demands of the rebels, Jarba called for the government delegation to turn against their president before negotiations start: We agree completely with Geneva 1, he said. We want to make sure we have a partner in this room that goes from being a Bashar al-Assad delegation to a free delegation so that all executive powers are transferred from Bashar al-Assad, he added. l
Two feared dead as police clash with Russia hacking hundreds of foreign companies protesters in Ukraine capital
n Reuters, Kiev
Two demonstrators were on Wednesday reported killed in new anti-government unrest in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, inflaming protesters who confronted police shouting Murderers and Glory to Ukraine!. Reports spread that a man had been shot dead by a police sniper overnight and that another demonstrator had fallen to his death atop the Dynamo football stadium, scene of the clashes in central Kiev. A Reuters cameraman was shown the body of a man identified as a protester who had gunshot wounds to the head but police denied that they had used any firearms in repelling protesters. As snow fell, riot police staged a baton-charge to push back protesters and seized canisters of harmful chemicals which they said the demonstrators had been readying to use against them. But after the riot police, known as Berkut, withdrew, protesters returned to the spot confronting police lines
n Reuters, Washington
Ukrainian opposition activists stand next to a barricade on a fire across a 40-metre no-mans land. The latest clashes broke out when police, using teargas, tried to dismantle a protest camp but were repelled by demonstrators hurling home-made petrol bombs, witnesses said.
AFP
The demonstrators have been out in the street for several weeks, angered by President Viktor Yanukovichs decision to shun a trade pact with the European Union and instead accept financial aid from Russia. l
A US cyber security firm says it has gathered evidence that the Russian government spied on hundreds of American, European and Asian companies, the first time Moscow has been linked to cyber attacks for alleged economic - rather than political - gains. According to the firm, CrowdStrike, the victims of the previously unreported cyber espionage campaign include energy and technology firms, some of which have lost valuable intellectual property. CrowdStrike declined to go into detail about those losses or to name any victims, citing confidentiality agreements related to its investigation. Officials with the Russian Interior Ministry could not be reached for comment early on Wednesday in Moscow. These attacks appear to have been motivated by the Russian governments interest in helping its industry maintain competitiveness in key areas of national importance, Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer of CrowdStrike, told Reuters on Tuesday evening. Cybersecurity researchers have in the past said that Chinas government was behind cyber espionage campaigns against various corporations dating back as far as 2005, but China has vehemently denied those allegations. Alperovitch said this is the first time the Russian government has been linked to cyber intrusions on companies. Governments have been using computer networks to spy on each other for more than 30 years in the type of surveillance programs conducted by virtually every nation, according to CrowdStrike. It is only in the past decade that some nations have started using cyber espionage as a platform for gaining data to help promote their
national economic interests, according to Alperovitch. CrowdStrike has been following the activities of the Russian group of hackers, which it dubbed Energetic Bear, for two years. The firm believes the Russian government is behind the campaign because of technical indicators, as well as analysis of the targets chosen and the data stolen, according to Alperovitch. We are very confident about this, he said. Victims include European energy companies, defense contractors, technology companies and government agencies, according to the CrowdStrike report. Manufacturing and construction firms in the United States, Europe and Middle East as well as US healthcare providers were also cited as targets in the report that was posted on the web early on Wednesday morning, here CrowdStrike described the activities of the Energetic Bear hackers in its annual cyber threat report, released on Wednesday. It also documented attacks by hacking groups in China and Iran and described the activities of the activist Syrian Electronic Army. Alperovitch, who is of Russian ethnic origin and now lives in the Washington, D.C., area, is an expert on cyber espionage who rose to prominence while working for McAfee Inc. While there he managed a team of researchers who produced a landmark January 2010 report that described how Chinese hackers had launched an unprecedented series of attacks known as Operation Aurora on Google Inc and dozens of other companies. In 2012, he co-founded CrowdStrike, which collects intelligence about the activities of hacking groups around the world and sells software to thwart such attacks. l
States across the northeast, including New York, declared emergencies and warned residents not to travel during the fast-moving storm
The streets of downtown Rockville, Maryland, were mostly empty on Tuesday afternoon, except for crews removing snow. Mike Rogers, 49, of Howard County, a contractor for Ruppert Landscaping, had been clearing the sidewalk with a snow blower since late morning. I like the snow, personally, he said. Im not working if it doesnt snow. l
A view down 5th Avenue in the snow as New Yorkers get hit with a winter storm that could bring up to a foot of snow in the city
AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
9
Sri Lanka arrests politician over killing n AFP, Colombo
Sri Lankan investigators arrested a ruling party politician who failed to turn up to his trial for the Christmas Day killing of a British tourist two years ago, police said Wednesday. Sampath Vidanapathirana, a councillor in the southern region of Tangalle, was tracked down and arrested in the capital Colombo on Tuesday night after he failed to answer a court summons nearly two weeks ago. He was arrested by the CID (Criminal Investigation Department) in a house at Kotte, police spokesman Ajith Rohana said, referring to a suburb in the capital. Vidanapathirana from the ruling Peoples Alliance is the main suspect in the killing of British tourist Khuram Sheikh who was shot dead on December 25, 2011, at a hotel in Tangalle. l
Delhis chief minister faces savage press criticism and calls off protest
elected to run, were widely criticised. The Times of India said the sit-in had been a distraction from an opportunity to improve Delhi and show good governance, adding that the middle class is unlikely to fall for such gimmickry. Others supported his cause and saw courage in his actions, meaning the episode might have lost him fewer voters than editorial writers in the English-speaking media have assumed. Who is he fighting for? Us! said Vishesh Sharma, who sells snacks on a street in central Delhi. What he did was right. These cops are corrupt and extort bribes from poor people like us. Samir Ahmad, who works in a parking lot in the same area, said Kejriwals target was a very good cause. Take our case, whenever there is any controversy or conflict in the parking lot and we call the cops, first they come late and then they try and extract money from us, he said. Kejriwal launched his protest on Monday to demand that five policemen whom he accused of misconduct be suspended and the citys police force be put under his control, instead of the central government. Some of the police he targeted were involved in a late-night incident last week when Delhis state law minister, AAP member Somnath Bharti, identified a house suspected of being used for prostitution and drug-dealing. In front of the media, Bharti became angry when police refused to raid the property in the absence of a warrant. Bharti and his supporters were then accused of detaining four African women, trapping them in a car and forcing one of them to urinate on the street, according to their lawyer and a police complaint. The Hindu said in its Wednesday editorial it was strange that Kejriwal should be defending vigilantism by his ministers. Forgotten here is that Indian law does not permit arbitrary search and seizure, especially involving women in the dead of the night, it added. l
where Yingluck was working. But highlighting the risk of the political deadlock turning violent, red shirt leader Kwanchai Praipana, who had warned of a nationwide fight if the military launched a coup, was wounded in the arm and leg in a driveby shooting at his home in the northeastern town of Udon Thani. Police said they believed it was politically motivated. From the way the assailants fired, they obviously didnt want him to live, his wife, Arporn Sarakham, told Reuters. Police said they had found 39 bullet cases at the house. Kwanchai Praipana leads thousands of pro-government supporters in Udon Thani province. On Tuesday, he told Reuters that if the military attempted a coup: I can assure you, on behalf of the 20 provinces in the northeast, that we will fight. The country will be set alight if the sol-
diers come out. So far the military, which has been involved in 18 actual or attempted coups in the past 81 years, has kept out of the fray. The police are charged with imposing the state of emergency, under orders from Yingluck to treat protesters against her government with patience. Paul Chambers, director of research at the Institute of South East Asian Affairs in Chiang Mai, said the emergency decree was designed largely to give Yingluck legal protection if there is violence and the police step in. Nine people have died and dozens have been wounded in violence, including two grenade attacks in the capital over the weekend, since protesters took to the streets in November to demand Yingluck step down and a peoples council be set up to bring sweeping reforms to Southeast Asias second-biggest economy. l
North Korea remains Washingtons number one security concern in Asia, the US Pacific Fleet commander said Wednesday, despite simmering territorial disputes elsewhere in the region. Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr also expressed concern over coercion by China in its maritime disputes with neighbours. He said an increased deployment of US military assets in the region as part of an Asian rebalance announced in 2012 would ensure that we are where it matters and when it matters. Our number one security concern is North Korea, Harris told reporters in Singapore on board the destroyer USS Spruance. I am concerned as a commander for the provocations that come from North Korea. I dont understand them, I dont understand their leadership and I dont understand their intent, he said. Pyongyang last week warned of calamities and disasters if the United States and South Korea push ahead with a series of annual joint military drills from next month. l
Bottlenose dolphins trapped in the cove during the selection process by fishermen
AFP
Chinese activist refuses Gloria Steinem: Indian battle against sexual violence gathers steam to defend himself
n Reuters, Beijing
Prominent Chinese rights advocate Xu Zhiyong went on trial on Wednesday in the countrys most high-profile dissident case in years, but his lawyer said he refused to offer any defence and called the court unjust. Outside the courtroom, Xus supporters chanted slogans and raised banners in his support. Police pushed away the crowd and at least three protesters were taken away to a police van. The government has waged a 10-month drive against Xus New Citizens Movement, which advocates working within the system to press for change, including urging officials to disclose their assets. The campaign against the movement exposes the ambivalence in Beijings bid to root out corruption, even as the authorities claim greater transparency. Xu, 40, is charged with gathering a crowd to disturb public order, punishable by up to five years in prison. His prosecution will almost certainly spark fresh criticism from Western governments over Beijings crackdown on dissent. Xus lawyer, Zhang Qingfang, told Reuters by telephone that Xu told the judge: This court is not just so I will maintain my silence. The judge tried to persuade Xu and Xus lawyers to speak but to no avail, so the judge called for a recess. Zhang had earlier said both he and Xu will maintain silence during the closeddoor proceedings because they do not believe the court will grant a fair trial. After proceedings are concluded, Xu will express his viewpoints about the trial and all that has happened to him over the past 10 years, Zhang said, adding that he was frustrated that the court only allowed him to produce two witnesses. Five witnesses that he had requested testify in court have been put under police guard and been prevented from moving around freely. One of them, he said, has been taken to a motel. l
India has a new intolerance to violence against women sparked by the fatal gangrape of a student in Delhi but the deeply patriarchal nation still has a long way to go to overcome injustice, says veteran US feminist Gloria Steinem. The brutal attack in December 2012, which touched a raw nerve in the country and sparked mass public protests, lit a match to the movement opposing violence against women, Steinem told AFP. People found their voice, she says, referring to the seething public anger over the death of the 23-year-old, which prompted parliament to toughen laws against rapists and other offenders. Its heartening, but theres a long way to go, Steinem cautions, referring to the battle to overcome sexual injustice entrenched through Indias ancient caste system, religious beliefs and ideas of female honour. Stark evidence of the problems India faces was provided last week with thegang-rapeof a 51-year-old Danish woman in the capital
the latest incident to shine a spotlight on the countrys record of sexual violence. Steinem, co-founder of Ms magazine in 1972, which became a powerful voice for the womens movement in the West, is in India to headline Asias biggest literary festival, which began on Friday in the city of Jaipur. The American, who is nearly 80 and has spent a lifetime fighting gender injustice, first came to India on a fellowship in the 1950s. Her Indian experience studying land reform taught her theres no grass without roots and that change is wrought by people on the ground. Crucial to change, she says, is developing a consciousness and getting a critical mass to believe in it. Thats what I think is happening here. Steinem, who hit fame in 1963 when she wrote an expose on life as a Playboy Bunny, is attending the Jaipur festival to talk about her new essay anthology bearing the tongue-in-cheek title As If Women Matter. She insists during the interview in New Delhi that younger women are more feminist than her generation and have better
bullshit detectors in spotting injustice. After years of writing about and railing against inequality, what angers her most is when people say the world has entered a post-feminist era. I say: Are you blind? Cant you see we still dont have equal pay for equal work? When you look in the power closets (corporate offices) the occupants are mainly men, she adds. And she rejects the notion that women can have it all marriage, career and children. No way, says Steinem. That means we women do it all. We cant be superwomen. Weve got to come up with better family-friendly work situations. Of course, weve made a lot of progress, she adds, saying she believes former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has a fair shot at becoming the first female president in US history if she runs. People saw her every day as Secretary of State, they got used to her in a position of power. Making her president would not be such a big jump in their minds.
Steinem had a tough childhood her mother suffered from depression, which meant she became her carer at 10 after her parents split. But later she won entrance to the prestigious Smith College in New England. Reflecting on her early years as a feminist, she confessed she was naive. I thought injustices against women are just so great if we just explain them to people, theyll get rid of them. I was wrong. Its been much slower progress, she said. Regularly lampooned as a feminazi by conservative US talkshow host Rush Limbaugh, Steinem says she understands why some women shy away from describing themselves as feminists because its a word mocked by men. Steinem, who turns 80 in March I feel like a Russian doll with my 20-year-old self inside remains feisty and funny and remarkably youthful, which she attributes to yoga and keeping perpetually busy. How does she plan to celebrate her 80th birthday? Im going to ride elephants in Botswana! she says gleefully. l
10
www.dhakatribune.com
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
The BNP needs to follow up on the positive moves it has taken this month to suspend blockades and issue statements against violence
Be Heard
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
angladesh is a country of rivers. In order to take care of our environment, then, it is crucial that we take care of the state of our rivers and water bodies. A recent survey conducted by the Poribesh Bachao Andolon showed that the level of water collected from different parts of the Buriganga river were too contaminated to support life. It was revealed that the level of dissolved oxygen present in the water was too low to support fish or other aquatic life forms. Irresponsible human activity is solely the cause of the polluting of the Buriganga, since rampant waste dumping into the river is what made the waters of our major water body so toxic. Water treatment plants have failed to purify the water, and the river has tragically lost just about all life. The Buriganga is now effectively a dead water body. The pollution in the river is a direct culprit for a variety of diseases, from skin disease, to respiratory problems, to diarrhea. It is of paramount importance that we stop dumping pollution into the Buriganga and take seriously the project of cleaning it up. Despite allocated funds and constant newspaper reporting on the matter, our once-great natural asset suffers from appalling neglect. Monies allocated to sewage works and cleaning water must be properly spent. The Buriganga is on the verge of extinction. It is high time we moved forward to save it, because its survival is tied with our own.
Very impressed with the state ministers statement. His body language and appearance is very impressive and firm. Best of luck and my prayers for him so he can run the ministry well. faizul
The pollution in the river is a direct culprit for a variety of diseases, from skin disease, to respiratory problems, to diarrhea
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Outer covering (4) 4 Dash (4) 8 Female deer (3) 9 Edible rootstock (4) 10 Minute particle (4) 11 Skip like a goat (5) 12 Tibetan priest (4) 14 Lair (3) 15 Ships record (3) 17 Tree (3) 19 Uncooked (3) 21 Pleased (4) 23 Unaccompanied (5) 26 Replete (4) 27 Tolerable (4) 28 Female swan (3) 29 Meat dish (4) 30 Harvest (4) DOWN 1 Mode of standing (6) 2 Worshipped image (4) 3 Wanderer (5) 4 Greek letter (3) 5 Part of a coat (5) 6 Land measure (3) 7 And not (3) 11 Waterway (5) 13 Combine (5) 16 Fast pace (6) 18 American elk (5) 20 Thin biscuit (5) 22 Low sand hill (4) 23 Donkey (3) 24 Fate (3) 25 Present (3)
CODE CRACKER
YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword
Sudoku
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
Manpower exporters are blaming the governments policies for the sharp decline in overseas employment. According to BAIRA, the main platform of private recruiting agencies, manpower exports fell drastically because of the wrong policy pursued by the government. It claims the government wants to export manpower through the government to government (G-to-G) system, which is not feasible. Such a system does not work anywhere in the world. It stresses on the need for joint initiatives of the government and private recruitment agencies to improve the situation.
n Mamun Rashid
he question came from a bank executive friend of mine. The gentleman studied at Dhaka University, worked at home and abroad at a few banks, and is now managing a large branch of a local commercial bank. He thought, if Mahathir Mohammad in Malaysia, or Hun Sen in Cambodia could rule for more than 20 years, why couldnt Sheikh Hasina rule Bangladesh till 2021 and ensure its entry into the league of middle income countries and lead us towards a more prosperous and economically advanced Bangladesh? He thought, as long as the economy was progressing, and people had more money to spend, they wouldnt raise their voices. Besides, he thought, people should not forget that the Awami Leagues founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib was the real force behind the creation of Bangladesh, hence only the AL should enjoy the rights to rule this country. This sounded very interesting to me. As long as the country was moving forward, more people could get jobs abroad and send money home, farmers could get their inputs and the right prices for their produce, entrepreneurs could get more electricity, gas, financial support and incentives to build up and run enterprises, women would be given their due share, more government officials would get senior positions, people in the rural areas would sleep well. Economic growth during the recent past AL regime was quite good. Power generation, inward remittance, foreign
exchange reserves, exports, social safety net for the marginalised people, distribution of books to students, timely supply of agriculture inputs, modernisation of armed forces, elevation of civil bureaucrats, licenses for new banks and insurance companies, approvals for private universities, hospitals, fishing trawlers, and airlines, due honour for freedom fighters, all happened during this time.
corruption, small and large. At the same time, we have a very vocal and independent media. They can highlight these, and the government would be forced to take action. There are so many television, radio, and newspapers. They could do a great job against minority repression and violence against women, and for ensuring civic rights. Elections mean violence, arson, illegal money going
We settle for less governance and more corruption to grab a bigger piece of the pie
We could see more women in decision-making roles, and the government taking a few noteworthy steps for children. My friend was right: Why spend almost the equivalent of $100m for an unnecessary election? Like many, he said we should spend this money for building up more rural education and health infrastructure. I was almost scratching my head. Yes, there are issues with corruption, governance, a failing judiciary, and political killings, but my young friend argued that these were regular scenes in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico, but nobody bothered. In countries like Sri Lanka and Cambodia, they almost dont have any opposition, he added. Yes, government and leaders in the ruling party are seen involved in
around, and killings. We should therefore avoid elections as far as possible. We cant allow the losers of 1971 to rule this independent country. The same goes for their friends. The opposition has not been able to come up with an acceptable formula to topple the government through peaceful movement. Moreover, with corrupt politicians, large beneficiaries of misrule, and partisan law enforcing agencies, a government can never be ousted through peaceful movement. You can make the movement violent, but you will lose your international and local civil society friends. Ruling party politicians smile, my friends shift their loyalty once again to the ruling party, and civil society members decide to give breathing
space to the new government, barring all controversies about the election process. We curb our expectations. The seniors in the opposition camp take a step back to reconcile with a hard reality while they are fighting the AL, they are in fact fighting with an emerging global power, India, and its articulate media. So, what do we do? We settle for less governance and more corruption to grab a bigger piece of the pie, and we apple-polish the politically appointed regulators to get our jobs done. We settle in order to make more money to send our children abroad, or to buy a new flat or get a government plot. We know for sure that if we have more money in our hands, we can even buy justice. There are a few people talking about democracy, or peaceful democratic transitions, like Rehman Sobhan or Sir Fazle Hasan Abed. To hell with them. They will soon be made to accept reality, and the latest version of democracy. Otherwise, they will become known as nabya razakars by ruling party loyalists and their journalist friends. It does not matter whether one is the author of the two nation theory, or the creator of the worlds largest non-government solution provider for the marginalised. My friend turned out to be so logical. He is happy with a government staying in power for 15-20 years, as long as they deliver. So are many of my friends. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.
ecords suggest that manpower export from Bangladesh began in 1976. In the first year, only 6,008 people left the country to find jobs abroad. Seven Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait were their main destinations. The number of expatriate workers did not reach 300,000 in any year prior to 2006. In that year, a total of 381,516 Bangladeshi workers went abroad for jobs. 2007 saw a big jump. In that year, 832,609 Bangladeshi workers went abroad for employment. In 2008, a total of 875,055 Bangladeshi workers were sent abroad. This remains the highest figure so far. In 2009, there was a sharp fall in the number of expatriate workers. A total of 475,278 workers went abroad for employment that year. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, the total number of Bangladeshi workers sent abroad stood at 390,702, 568,062 and 607,798 respectively. 2013 again saw a sharp fall in our manpower export. Quoting the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), a report in Dhaka Tribune said a total of 389,229 people had migrated to different countries for jobs till December 12, 2013. Compare that to the 607,000 workers who migrated to different countries for jobs in 2012. A recent report of the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment shows that migrant workers remittance in the first year (1976) of manpower export business amounted to only $23 million. It increased to $3.56 billion in 2004, which stood at $12.17 billion and $14.16 billion in 2010 and 2012 respectively. An UNCTAD report titled Report on the Least Developed Countries 2012 said Bangladesh had emerged as a top remittance recipient among 48 LDCs, as it alone received around 44% of the $27bn received by LDCs as remittance in 2011. The Bangladesh Bank data released recently shows that remittance inflow decreased by 2.39% in 2013, compared to a rise of 16.49% in 2012. It stood at $13.83bn last year, against $14.16bn in 2012. The views expressed by the government and the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) regarding the sharp fall in the export of manpower in 2013 are somewhat contradictory. At a press conference on December 17, the day before the International Migration Day, Expatriates Welfare Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said that the manpower export had fallen because of global recession. The minister also claimed that the manpower sector was not affected by hartals and blockades, although other sectors were badly affected by these strikes. According to BMET officials, the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Kuwait and the UAE virtually stopped, while it substantially reduced for Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Malaysia over the years. Moreover, Bangladeshi workers were earning low wages abroad due to global economic recession, hence sending less remittance to the country.
On the other hand, the minister blames the illegal practices and visa businesses of private recruiting agencies for damaging the overseas employment market for Bangladeshi workers. He claims thousands of Bangladeshis are staying illegally in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, as they were sent by private recruiting agencies through unofficial channels. While there may be truth to both sides, the need of the hour is to take corrective steps by both the government and the private recruiting agencies, so that Bangladesh can regain its lost market and the number of Bangladeshi workers abroad reaches the 2008 level, if not more. The question may arise: Why is it necessary to arrest the fall in manpower export? Expatriate workers remittances play an important role in our socioeconomic life. It can be broadly explained in two ways. At the macro-level, remittance helps Bangladesh make investments for industrial development and modernise its industries. This helps us increase our export of manufactured goods, which ultimately helps in making the balance of payments favourable. Furthermore, remittance in Bangladesh arises as a poverty alleviation policy tool. Available sources suggest that in 2011, remittance was almost double the value of FDI in Bangladesh. Micro-level benefits encompass both the community and family. At the community level, it generates multiplier effects in the local economy, creating jobs and spurring new services. The year-long political unrest has adversely impacted the countrys economy, but the manpower sector is not affected by this unrest. Nobody knows how long the unrest will continue. In such circumstances, it is the expatriate workers remittances that can help Bangladesh maintain a reasonable growth rate. This stresses the need for arresting the fall in manpower export. l M Abdul Latif Mondal is a former government secretary.
ocial protection is now recognised as the single fastest way to fight poverty. Developed nations around the world invest heavily in social protection and welfare to prevent the recurrence of severe poverty in their societies. It is this investment that keeps them in the developed countries status, and prevents the decay of their human capital. Bangladesh is globally recognised for taking a proactive stance with social protection. Our government this year allocated 2.13% of the GDP to social protection, which amounts to approximately $3bn. This is a significant amount. Furthermore, the government has over 90 safety net programs, underscoring its commitment to social protection. However, if we want to become a pro-poor middle income country by 2021, we need to speed up our efforts to eradicate extreme poverty and streamline our social protection system and budget so that it tackles poverty in the most effective way possible. Safety nets in Bangladesh have historically focused on food rations and disaster relief. This has gradually widened to include life cycle needs. The safety net budget is approximately 50% for food and disaster relief, with the rest going to work for cash, human development stipends, and old age allowance.
While most of these social transfers are not enough to support a persons livelihood, they do provide a regular cash flow and some alleviation of deprivation, enabling poor recipients to survive. This protective state function is necessary for people excluded from the market economy. Alongside this, the country needs wide-scale transformative programs which enable able-bodied recipients to engage with the market and climb out of extreme poverty. Together, this twopronged approach can lead to rapid eradication of extreme poverty, if done right. To ensure optimal efficiency, there are some gaps that need to be addressed.
No single ministry takes ownership of the disbursement of safety nets. This creates cumbersome bottlenecks. While numerous ministries may contribute to the budget, it is helpful if there is a single organising agency that manages the process of disseminating funds to the poorest. The social welfare ministry might play this coordinating role while a private sector company might be well positioned to take responsibility for fund distribution.
outside banks that are far from their homes. With Bangladeshs dense mobile coverage and rapidly expanding mobile transfer programs, perhaps it is time to explore more digitally savvy payment mechanisms.
Grassroots reality
Targeting
Insufficient coverage
Though the budget allocation to safety nets is significant, it is not enough to mitigate the suffering of the 25 million people who are extremely poor. A large portion of the budget goes to funding social pension rather than the needs of the poorest. Furthermore, each stipend or transfer, at an average of Tk300 per person per month, is insufficient to enable the recipient to meet basic consumption needs (far from save anything for rainy days) and is often referred to as tokenism. Both the total coverage and the amount per transfer need to be increased.
As there is not enough money to go around, the selection of the neediest becomes a murky issue. Safety nets are often used for purposes of patronage and UP chairmen decide somewhat unfairly who is eligible and then distribute funds accordingly. Eligibility does not lead to access. While some might argue that a universal social protection package might overcome this problem, in reality, some amount of targeting is necessary to ensure that the poorest of the poor receive the safety nets because the most marginalised members of society tend to be invisible, living in the most remote regions of the country.
Payment mechanisms
Most social transfers are disbursed by government banks. Vulnerable people often have to line up in long queues
Shiree is a government of Bangladesh and UK partnership livelihoods program that provides transformative asset transfers and skills training to 250,000 extreme poor households across Bangladesh. On average, households receive about Tk15,000 worth of assets at one go, along with a holistic range of services. This large outreach gives Shiree an opportunity to monitor households and helps generate a better understanding of the dynamics of extreme poverty and the effectiveness of interventions intended to address extreme poverty in Bangladesh. From Shiree data, we find, 91% of extremely poor beneficiaries (before joining the Shiree program) had not received any safety net support from the government, though they all fell within the bottom 5% of the population, and were in desperate need of support. The figures have improved over the years, as efforts to make the poorest more visible at the union level, have helped them gain access to the safety nets that they are entitled to. NGOs have helped in this process by setting
up support group networks and arranging workshops where government officials, UP chairmen, health clinic workers can meet beneficiaries. This sort of GO NGO partnership has been successful in various parts of the country. One success, for example, was in the Pabna region, where an NGO was able to help 400 extremely poor adivasi beneficiaries access safety net allowances.
Developed nations around the world invest heavily in social protection and welfare
As we move towards a reformed social protection agenda, we hope to see the policymakers embrace some of the best practices of other nations to improve the transparency of safety net disbursement, efficiency of safety net targeting, and the enhancement of safety net budgeting to meet the growing needs of the poorest, most disenfranchised citizens of our nation. l Shazia Omar is Head of Advocacy at Shiree. Saidur Rahman is Program Manager at Shiree.
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
Afrose Jahan Chaity
surrounding her grandmother. When my sister Riya and I were kids, grandma had already given up films and public life. So, we only knew her as our grandmother and not as this iconic star until the time we became actresses ourselves. It was only then that we realised what a huge reputation our grandmother had. She took a decision to stay out of public view and she stuck to it. Its easy to withdraw from the limelight, but difficult to resist coming back to it. Once she made up her mind, she stayed away. She left everything and everyone behind. My mom, sister and I were all she had. Both Moon Moon Sen and Raima will be playing themselves in an upcoming film titled Sadarghat which pays tribute to Suchitra Sen. Though the film revolves around her, shell not be seen in person anywhere in the film. l
dance show today Its difficult to resist coming back to Gaudiya n limelight: Raima on Suchitra Sen
n Entertainment Desk
Raima Sen, actor and granddaughter of late legendary actor Suchitra Sen, says that her granny wanted her to get married. I should have spent more time with my grandmother? I guess the time you get with those you love is never enough. Thank god I wasnt somewhere else when she went, said Raima in an interview with IBN Live yesterday. Her last wish was to see me get married. I want her wish for me to come true, she added. Suchitra, the reclusive Bengali screen goddess, died on January 17 at the age of 82. My mother (Moon Moon Sen), my sister (Riya) and I are the only family she had, the only people she wanted to connect with. We felt responsible towards her. Its a terrible loss, said the actress credited with some timeless films like Chokher Bali and Anuranan. Recalling Suchitras last days, Raima said: She was conscious of her condition in hospital. But none of us thought she would go away. Her health didnt seem so bad. She was chatting asking about how her home was doing in her absence. According to her, Moon Moon has become shattered after Suchitras death. I really dont know what my mother will do without my grandmother now. They were one anothers universe. To my mother, her mother mattered the most. My moms bonding with my grandmother cant be compared with what my sister and I shared with our grandmother. Riya and I have our lives. But for our mom, her mother was her universe, said Raima. Raima, who has been in Kolkata for more than a month, says right now there is an incessant flow of guests in the house. However, as a child Raima knew nothing about the legendary aura A Gaudiya dance evening will be held today at 6:30pm at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. A dance artist of Nrityanchal, Rachel Priyanka Perris is performing a solo Gaudiya dance, under the direction of dance guru of Kolkata Dr Mahua Mukharjee. Besides this performance, Rachel also conducted a seven-day-long Gaudiya dance workshop from January 17-23, where 80 students of Nrityanchal School participated. Rachel Priyanka Perris completed her graduation and post graduation from Rabindra Bharti University. She received advance training in Gaudiya dance from exponent guru Dr Mahua Mukharjee, who is a researcher and teacher at Rabindra Bharati University and dean of the faculty of fine arts. Now, Rachel is doing her MPhil in Gaudiya, which has been recently introduced to the dance arena of Bangladesh. About the genre, Rachel said: Gaudiya Nritya originated from Gauda, also known as Gaur, in Bengal. The dance form was lost over the centuries. It has been reconstructed by Mahua Mukherjee. Gaudiya Nritya originated in the western Indian state of Bengal. The word Gaudiya itself means old Bengal. The dance form can trace its roots back to the Natya Shatra.
Gaudiya dancer Rachel Priyanka Perris Angasadhana and Nrittanga. I will also perform solo numbers: Alapchari which is a rhythm based dance: Kalinamabali, which is about the different names of the deity Kali and her image: Ardhanariswar and another Lilakirtana. Students will perform on two Bangla songs which is choreographed with Gaudiya steps Lassya and Tandav.
As the dance form is new here, what kind of feedback did you receive from the workshop?
I will perform Ganeshvandana, which expresses respect towards God, with the students who participated in the workshop. Then, the students will perform the basics of Gaudiya Nritya named
Response and feedback from the students are positive. They are very interested in Gaudiya Nritya. As I am finding them really involved to learn, I think we should take more steps to promote classical dance here. We have to practice and devote ourselves to it. Because, I find that dance is a form of worship for me. l
n Entertainment Desk
Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who ended his 25-year marriage to Maria Shriver two years back, seems to have found love again with physical therapist Heather Milligan. The two were recently spotted driving away together in a silver Mercedes convertible, from a private residence in Brentwood, California. The couple appeared cool and relaxed as they left the premises, reports a website. They were once spotted together earlier in 2013. Back then, it had dispelled all rumours of the actor getting back with his ex-wife. The 66-year-old has four children, Katherine, 23, Christina, 22, Patrick, 20, and Christopher, 16, with Milligan. l
In an interview with the Dhaka Tribune, director Henrik Peschel talks about the film: Parvis travels to Europe illegally. He has no passport. Today many people go to Madrid from Asia and Africa for work, for its geographical location and to get a better life. For example, now, many Syrians are trying to get into Europe, fleeing their wartorn country. This is a global problem as well as Europes, says Peschel. So, we want to spread the film across countries. Im happy to be able to screen it in Bangladesh. I want to go to every country. Weve been in many festivals. The Dhaka International Film Festival is also known in Germany for its good films. Not too many people know about Bangladesh.
TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
Shimana Periyee Directed by Alamgir Kabir Time: 6pm Bangladesh Film Institute Auditorium 160, Lake Circus (4th Floor), Kolabagan Chawa Pawa Time: 6:00pm 8:30pm National Music and Dance Centre, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Thor: The Dark World Pacific Rim in 3D Time: 10am 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath Gondar By Prachyanat, Time: 6:30pm 8:00pm National Theatre, Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha Panchanari Akhyan By Dhaka Theatre, Time: 7pm 9pm Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
Theatre
ON TV
MOVIE
6:50pmZee Studio
Notting Hill Red Dawn
COMEDY
12:30pm Z Cafe
A scene from Prem O Shomoyer Golpo Being Erica
DRAMA
10:00pm Colors
Rangrasiya Veera
DRAMA
11:30am Fox Ttraveller
Jamie At Home
10:00pm Channel V
V Superstar Preview
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 5 2
DAYS TO GO
14 Gervinho sees
15 Loss to NZ
Sheikh Jamals Haitian forward Sony Norde goes airborne after a rough tackle by Cameroonian defender Bayebeck, (L) consequentially sent off during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M
BHF distributes high class hockey sticks Dhaka schools n Raihan Mahmood
Mizanur Rahman, a class eight student of Barnamala Adarsha High School in Dania, Dhaka, was excited to hold the composite hockey stick for the first time at the kits distribution programme of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation yesterday. Ahead of the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey, scheduled to start from February 1, the hockey federation distributed 16 latest composite sticks and nine balls to each of the 21 participating school of the Dhaka district. A total of 102 schools from all over the country will be participating in the tournament in spread over ten venues. Meanwhile the sponsors declared that they will step up with their monetary scholarships for higher education of selected players who will undergo long term training. Dr Mahfuzur Rahman, the chairman of the organising committee, also declared a monetary award of Tk100000, 50000 and 25000 for the top three goal scorers in the competition. The participating schools are - Narayanganj High School, Joy Gobinda High School, Fatullah Pilot High School, Police Line High School and Hariharpara High School (Narayanganj), Satirapra KK Institution, Narsingdi, Poisha High School, Munshiganj, Motijheel Government High School, BAF Shahin High School, Barnamala Adarsha High School, Dania, Armanitola High School, Ahmed Bawani Academy, PM Pilot High School Zinjira, Shahid Nabi High School, West End High School, Nawab Habibullah School, Rayerbazar High School and Barnamala Pathshala. l
The directors will discuss the matter at the meeting and then well provide our stance on it
Everything has its positive and negative impact, so weve to read it carefully. The directors will discuss the matter at the meeting and then well provide our stance on it, said BCB acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury. Bangladeshs chance to play Test cricket will effectively diminish despite if the proposals are put into effect.Nizamuddin however, was cautious in commenting on this aspect of the matter. The proposals are still being reviewed. Before our meeting is takes place, we cant say anything about these implications, he said. Other topics that will be discussed at the meeting are the financial aspects of the board and process of formal approval from the board for announcing a squad before an international series. l
Tamim in jovial mood after speaking to the press at SBNS yesterday Cricket League for the challenge ahead. We played two four day games everyone is in touch and the preparation has been better than before. We have to take the confidence form the two matches that our cricket board arranged for us in the BCL, and bring it into the Test series. They (Sri Lanka) also played a good Test series (against Pakistan) and we are aware that they are a quality side. This time we are facing them on our own ground which will be an added advantage but we still need to play well. If we do play well, then I am sure that we will be able to cause a surprise, said Tamim. The wickets in the BCL games, which were held at BKSP,have been
DHAKA TRIBUNE
criticized for not being fair. The opening round of the first-class tournament produced 8 fifties, 5 hundreds and a double hundred, while the bowlers leaked 2,201 runs and picked up just 45 wickets. It is true that the wickets were bad for the bowlers because they were too flat but as a batter, I feel it was a decent track to bat on. I was very confident. When there are big performances ahead of a Test match, like (Imrul) Kayes and Shamsur (Rahman), it is a plus point, since they will be confident. We play cricket after long gaps, but this time I would like to thank the cricket board for arranging the BCL games. We are better prepared than last time, said Tamim. l
14
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
AS Roma's forward Gervinho (L) celebrates after scoring against Juventus during their Coppa Italia match at Rome's Olympic stadium on Tuesday
AFP
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema (C) is challenged by Espanyol's Joan Capdevila (L) and Sidnei Rechel (R) during the King's Cup match at Cornella El Prat stadium, in Barcelona on Tuesday REUTERS
RESULTS
AC Ajaccio Angers Boulogne
CA Bastia Niort Bastia win 5 4 on penalties Concarneau Croix Lens Marseille Sete
02 10 02 22
23 03 21 45 20
Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo (C) celebrates scoring against West Ham United with teammates Sergio Aguero (L) and Dedryck Boyata (R) during their English League Cup semifinal second leg match at Boleyn Ground on Tuesday REUTERS
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
SCORECARD
New Zealand M. Guptill c Shami b Raina J. Ryder C Dhoni b Shami K. Williamson st Dhoni b Jadeja R. Taylor c Dhoni b Shami C. Anderson c Dhawan b Sharma B. McCullum c & b Shami L. Ronchi not out N. McCullum b Kumar K. Mills not out Extras: (lb1, w7) Total: (seven wickets; 42 overs) 44 20 77 57 44 0 18 1 2 8 271
QUICK BYTES
Bowling Kumar 7 1 43 1, Shami 7 0 55 3 (2w), Sharma 6 0 46 1 (4w), Jadeja 8 0 46 1, Kohli 2 0 12 0, Ashwin 8 0 50 0 (1w), Raina 4 0 18 1 India S. Dhawan b Southee 12 R. Sharma c Ronchi b Southee 20 V. Kohli c sub b Southee 78 A. Rahane c Ronchi b McClenaghan 36 M. Dhoni c Williamson b Anderson 56 S. Raina c Southee b Mills 35 R. Jadeja b Anderson 12 R. Ashwin c Guptill b Southee 5 B. Kumar c N. McCullum b Anderson 11 M. Shami not out 1 I. Sharma not out 1 Extras: (lb3, w7) 10 Total: (nine wickets, 41.3 overs) Q277 Bowling Mills 9 1 50 1, McClenaghan 8 1 45 1 (1w), Southee 9 0 72 4 (1w), N. McCullum 8 0 40 0 (3w), Anderson 7.3 067 3 (2w) Result New Zealand won by 15 runs (D/L method)
Mitchell McClenaghan (2L) from New Zealand celebrates the wicket of India batsman Ajinkya Rahane during their second ODI at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday
Loss to New Zealand robs Federer subdues Murray to set up Nadal classic India of top ODI ranking n
AFP, Melbourne
AFP
n AFP, Hamilton
India surrendered their world number one ODI ranking Wednesday when they suffered a second successive defeat to New Zealand in a rain-abbreviated game in Hamilton. India were 20 runs short of their Duckworth-Lewis adjusted target of 297 when further rain ended the game with three balls remaining. Indias second loss to the eighth ranked New Zealand saw them slip behind Australia on the world rankings. A two-hour rain break during the New Zealand innings and big hitting by all-rounder Corey Anderson conspired to give India a daunting target which they threatened to reach until the loss of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. When the skipper went for 56 in the 40th over India were 257-6 and their tailend batsmen were unable to maintain the required run rate. New Zealand, sent into bat first, made 271-7 after rain reduced their innings to 42 overs. Anderson was the central figure
in a 101-run slog in the 8.4 overs after the rain break which, under the Duckworth-Lewis system, saw Indias target scaled upwards to 297. They made a rocky start to their reply when Tim Southee removed Shikhar Dhawan (12) and followed with the dismissal of Rohit Sharma (20) to claim his 100th ODI wicket. When Mitch McClenagham removed Ajinkya Rahane for 36 to have India 127-3 they needed a further 170 off 18.2 overs. With Virat Kohli and Dhoni at the crease it remained possible until Southee came back for his second spell and captured the prized wicket of Kohli for 78. Suresh Raina plundered a run a ball until he went for 35 and then New Zealand claimed the break they needed when Anderson removed Dhoni. It started a collapse that saw four wickets fall for 18 runs as Indias run chase crumbled. The New Zealand innings followed a similar pattern to their performance when they won the first ODI in Napier on Sunday by 24 runs.
Opener Jesse Ryder hit a few quick boundaries before being dismissed while Martin Guptill was more cautious, reaching 44 before he was removed, leaving Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor to build the innings. They took New Zealand to 170 for two when the rain came, and after the resumption Williamson was quickly removed opening the way for Andersons charge. Three weeks after he smashed the fastest ODI century in 36 balls, Anderson had the fastest 50 in his sights when he was dismissed. He belted 44 off 16 deliveries and needed a six off the 17th ball to tie the record set by Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya in 1996, but was caught by Shikhar Dhawan on the boundary at long on off Ishant Sharma. Mohammed Shami then removed Ross Taylor (57) and Brendon McCullum (duck) to put the brakes on the New Zealand charge. Shami finished with the figures of three for 55, while bowling for New Zealand Southee took four for 72. l
Roger Federer fought back from a midmatch stumble against Andy Murray Wednesday to set up a classic Australian Open semi-final with Rafael Nadal. After Nadal battled through an unexpectedly tough quarter-final with
Bulgarias Grigor Dimitrov, Federer showed both his vintage best and his fallibility in beating Murray 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3. The Swiss great was electric in the first two sets but he tightened as he neared the finishing line, and was broken when serving for the win before passing up two match points in the third-set tiebreaker. However, he extended Murray in a 19-minute hold at the start of the fourth set, then got the crucial break for 5-3 and, after setting up a third match point, he grabbed the opportunity with an ace. I thought Andy did well, he kept the ball in play and put the pressure on me and unfortunately I couldnt get it done in the third set, with either the serve or the forehand missing. So I am happy to get the win in four, Federer said. Nadal also flirted with disaster before getting out of jail against rising Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov. The 13-time Grand Slam champion, troubled by a huge blister on his racquet hand, went a set down against the exciting young prospect and, facing set points in the third, he was tottering. l
Players of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh celebrate after winning against State University of Bangladesh (SUB) during their 7th ULAB Fair Play Cup Inter Private University Cricket Tournament match at the ULAB ground at Ramchandrapur yesterday MUMIT M
DAYS WATCH
Star Sports 1 2:40PM Big Bash T20 Hobart Hurricanes vs. Brisbane Heat Star Sports 4 2:00PM Australian Open 2014 Semi Final: Mens Singles Ten Golf 4:00PM European Tour 2014 Qatar Masters, Day 2
Victoria Azarenka gestures during her women's singles match against Agnieszka Radwanska on day ten of the 2014 Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday AFP
16
SIX MONTHS OF FY2014
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
CAUGHT IN A MAZE
A numbers of cars stuck in traffic in the capitals Hatirjheel yesterday afternoon. Though built as a bypass road, it is still not enough to accommodate the capitals ever increasing number of vehicles BANGLAR CHOKH
n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
One of the largest ever vaccination campaign is set to take place across the country between January 25 and February 13, with the government planning to administer measles-rubella (MR) vaccines to around 5 crore 20 lakh children between the age of nine months and 15 years. The health ministry has also set a target of providing oral polio vaccines to over two crore children under the age of five during the three-week long national campaign. Dr Abu Zafor Md Musa, director of primary health care at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Dhaka Tribune that as far as he knew, it would be one of the largest vaccination campaigns of the world, with one-third of the total Bangladeshi population being brought under the vaccination coverage. Saying Bangladesh had remained polio-free since 2006 and was set to be certified for the achievement in March, Musa added that the aim of the nationwide campaign was to sustain the polio-free status, and eliminate measles and rubella diseases. Dr Shafiqur Rahman, programme manager of Expanded Immunization Programme, said children were the usual victims of measles and rubella both of which are communicable diseases. Measles causes pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition, encephalitis, blindness and deafness; while, rubella infection of the pregnant mother within three months of pregnancy could result in miscarriage, or the child could be born with Congenital Rubella Syn-
drome. Senior officials at the health ministry said 211 measles and 2,911 rubella patients were found in the country in 2013. They also expressed hopes that the countrywide vaccination programme would save thousands of children and pregnant mothers from being effected with measles or rubella. The Global Alliance for Vaccination and Immunization (GAVI) has reportedly provided over $33.5m to conduct the nationwide MR vaccination campaign, while Unicef has bought Tk287 crore worth of vaccine with the budget. The target of this programme was to increase the MR vaccine coverage up to 95% within 2016 and reduce the rate of the infected by 90% compared to figures from 2010. In the first week, MR vaccines would be given to around 3 crore 35 lakh students of 171,000 schools, while during the second and third weeks (February 1 to February 13) MR vaccines would be given at 120,000 fixed sites of Expanded Immunization Programme across the country. A total of 66,993 skilled vaccinators and 241,000 trained volunteers would work to make the campaign a success. Speaking at a press brief ahead of the programme, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday urged citizens to get vaccines from their nearest centres. He also sought help from the media for creating mass awareness amongst the general people throughout the country. Nasim also blamed some unscrupulous people of spreading rumours to tarnish the ministrys image, and called on citizens to keep their eyes open to avoid the rumours. l
With the political situation in the country stabilising, tourists are seen returning to Coxs Bazaar in droves, raising the spirits of local hotel owners and businessmen DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093 94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
Business
B4 CEOs condence
in economy rising
Banks pay scale EU to provide trade support beyond GSP n awaits adequate legal advice
Tribune Report
Government wants to know how to amend the relevant law to introduce a separate salary structure for BB and four state banks
'The previous legal advice from the law ministry was not enough and lacked adequate instructions on amendment of the law'
Now the finance ministry wants suggestions on how to amend the Services (Reorganisation and Conditions) Act, 1975 to implement a separate pay scale for the banks. Bangladesh Banks pay scale is out of the purview of the act. To bring the staff of the central bank under a separate pay scale with the state-owned four commercial banks, the law will have to be amended. The previous legal advice from the law ministry was not enough
and lacked adequate instructions on amendment of the law, said a finance ministry official. Due to pressure from Bangladesh Bank, the law ministry might have done it hurriedly. Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Tuesday reiterated that the government would soon implement a separate pay scale for Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks. He said: The process of implementation would start from where it got stuck. According to the official sources, the implementation division of the finance ministry sought suggestion again from the law ministry on a separate pay scale before January 5 election. Implementation of separate pay scale for the employees of Bangladesh Bank and four state banks has been stuck due to legal complexities. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina signed the recommendations of the secretaries committee on separate pay scale on November 12 last year. Under the new 11-grade pay scale which will replace the existing 20-grade pay structure, the basic salary for those in the lowest grade will be Tk6,000 and for the highest grade will be Tk55,000. Currently, the four banks have around 90,000 employees while the central bank has nearly 6,000. l
The European Union renewed its commitment to work on boosting trade with Bangladesh through diversification of business. The EU will continue GSP facilities for Bangladesh and they would provide even more to improve trade between the two countries, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told a press briefing at the commerce ministry in Dhaka yesterday. He expressed the hope after a meeting with EU Ambassador to Bangladesh William Hanna as they discussed on how to boost bilateral trade and commerce. We had talks on how to improve trade with the EU and the ambassador assured us that they will continue GSP facilities for Bangladesh and they would provide even more to boost trade. Tofail said his ministrys main aim is to promote the countrys trade and commerce as he assured to work hard in improving the trade. In first half of the current fiscal year, Bangladesh exported products worth US$7.91bn to EU countries, while the countrys RMG export rose to over $7bn, which is 21% higher compared to the same period of previous fiscal year. EU Ambassador Hanna reiterated the EUs commitment not to review the GSP facilities, but stressed on implementation of the factory safety and inspection issues. Weve discussed commitment in the area of factory safety and inspection I think there is a good progress in safety, which should continue and Keep watching them closely, Hanna said, talking about safety and sustainable compact that has been declared in last year in Geneva after the Rana plaza factory disaster. I hope there would be favorable and peaceful environment for trade and commerce and continuation of dialogue for trade and commerce until the country takes forward.
ASEAN Countries 1%
EU Countries 48%
D 8 Countries BIMSTEC 1% 4%
About the further cooperation in improving further the cooperation, he said: We have projects for further diversification of trade and automation of GSP. He said trade is one of the most important issues of cooperation between EU and Bangladesh while export growth of Bangladesh to EU marked remarkably last year.
Earlier at a separate meeting, British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Gibson expressed the willingness to improve bilateral trade between the two countries. He apprised the Bangladesh minister of 66 UK companies having around 2bn investment in Bangladesh and expressed the willingness to increase
the investment. Gibson also pointed out some problems that create noise in doing business as the minister assured him of removing the obstacles to facilitate them doing business here peacefully. Bangladesh fetched US$1.37bn from UK by exporting different products during the July-December period of current fiscal year. l
Textile made a strong rebound, gaining 3.3% following previous downbeat sessions
Shariah-based DSES index edged 13 points or 1.5% higher to 961. The blue-chip comprising DS30 index rose 25 points or 1.6% to 1,640. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, rallied 118 points to close at 9,115. High turnover was one of the main highlights of the day. The total turnover at DSE stood at Tk803 crore, which was the highest since November 21 last year and 7.4% higher over the previous session.
STOCKS
DSEX DS30 CSEX 4640.56 1640.07 9116.4 1.22% 1.57% 1.48%
B2
Rcent stock price movement of Padma Oil at DSE (in Taka)
350 340 330 320
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.87 8.78 8.41 7.81 7.80 7.39 6.94 6.67 6.53
310 300 290 280 270 260 250 01-01-14 02-01-14 06-01-14 07-01-14 08-01-14 09-01-14 12-01-14 13-01-14 15-01-14 16-01-14 19-01-14 20-01-14 21-01-14 22-01-14 22-12-13 23-12-13 24-12-13 26-12-13 29-12-13 30-12-13
Traded Issues Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Cap. Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Cap. Equity (Billion US$)
Dutch Ban. Bnk- A AMCL (Pran) -A Monno Ceramic -B People`s Leasing-A National Polymer -A National Tubes -A Saiham Tex.A ICB Emp. PMF A ICB AMCL IslamicMF A CSE GAINERS Company ICB AMCL IslamicMF A AMCL (Pran) -A Prime Islami Life -A People`s Leasing-A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Kay & Que (BD) -Z National Polymer -A Phoenix Fin. 1st MF A Marico BD Ltd-A Saiham Tex.A
Average (% change) 9.36 7.76 5.74 5.82 5.68 6.40 4.43 5.16 7.02
Closing average 116.44 213.45 35.36 26.91 66.37 113.11 30.17 6.32 21.35
Closing 118.00 216.90 36.10 27.60 67.70 113.30 30.80 6.40 21.20
Daily high 118.10 216.90 36.40 27.90 68.80 115.70 31.20 6.60 21.80
Daily low 105.00 196.50 34.00 23.50 59.00 96.00 29.00 6.10 20.20
Turnover in million 42.653 37.084 7.350 139.174 34.966 36.493 63.971 2.688 7.100
Latest EPS 9.21 5.08 0.64 1.17 2.24 1.84 2.48 0.64 4.16
Latest PE 12.6 42.0 55.3 23.0 29.6 61.5 12.2 9.9 5.1
Closing Price
Closing (% change) 9.71 8.78 8.35 8.27 7.99 7.84 7.77 7.02 7.01 6.94
Date
Average (% change) 9.71 8.95 13.66 5.69 10.96 7.75 5.51 5.28 5.58 4.88
Closing average 19.20 215.32 131.10 26.74 117.40 21.98 66.25 5.98 840.10 30.32
Closing 19.20 216.80 131.10 27.50 116.20 22.00 68.00 6.10 840.10 30.80
Daily high 19.20 216.80 133.00 27.80 118.30 22.00 68.00 6.10 843.90 31.40
Daily low 19.20 203.90 121.00 25.60 116.00 21.90 64.90 5.90 825.00 29.40
Turnover in million 0.010 8.053 0.584 22.491 1.878 0.055 1.387 0.051 0.252 3.751
Latest EPS 4.16 5.08 4.95 1.17 9.21 -0.89 2.24 0.88 46.53 2.48
Latest PE 4.6 42.4 26.5 22.9 12.7 -ve 29.6 6.8 18.1 12.2
MON 20-Jan
TUE
21-Jan
WED
22-Jan
(+) 1.22% (+) 1.57% (+) 1.41% (+) 1.34% (+) 1.55% (+) 1.33%
Average (% change) -7.44 -5.25 -7.24 -3.43 -0.08 -2.38 -1.00 -3.77 0.11
Closing average 42.67 9.02 9.09 151.04 177.93 9.02 236.92 9.20 35.16
Closing 42.00 9.00 9.20 149.90 174.90 8.80 230.00 9.10 34.10
Daily high 45.30 9.20 9.50 160.60 183.60 9.40 245.90 9.20 35.80
Latest PE 27.4 -ve -ve 65.7 28.3 -ve 99.5 -ve 16.0
ZAHINTEX: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on January 21, 2014. FUWANGCER: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on January 21, 2014. DACCADYE: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on January 21, 2014. RIGHT SHARE: ARAMITCEM: Subscription 23.03.2014 to 17.04.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.01.2014. RUPALILIFE- Subscription 06.04.2014 to 05.05.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 16.01.2014. BRACBANK: Subscription 20.04.2014 to 15.05.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 10.02.2014.
IPO Subscription: Matin Spinning Mills Limited subscription date 26 30 January 2014, NRB upto 08 Feburay 2014. @ Tk. 37/-, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Hwa Well Textiles (BD) Limited subscription date 17 23 February 2014, NRB upto 04 March 2014. At per, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Dividend/AGM ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 01.03.2014, RD: 29.12.2013. USMANIAGL: 11% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: postponed, RD: 07.11.2013. POWERGRID: 15% Cash, AGM: 25.01.2014, Time: 10:00 AM. RD: 01.12.2013. EASTRNLUB: 30% Cash, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013. JAMUNAOIL: 90% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013. SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 30.01.2014, RD: 19.12.2013. PADMAOIL: 90% Cash, 10% Stock, AGM: 15.02.2014, RD: 23.12.2013. SAMORITA: 30% Stock, AGM: 11.01.2014, RD: 25.11.2013.
Republic Insu.-A
CSE LOSERS Company Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Imam Button -Z PragatiLife Insu. -A Alltex Industries -Z Quasem Drycells -A BSC A MeghnaCement -A Bangas -A Phoenix Insur -A
-3.89
-0.85
Average (% change) -7.82 -4.34 -2.57 -2.38 -2.63 -2.11 -1.71 -1.65 -1.09
47.77
47.00
49.60
45.00
10.541
3.03
15.8
Closing (% change) -7.27 -5.05 -4.40 -4.26 -3.62 -3.36 -2.41 -2.39 -2.30
Closing average 42.67 9.47 234.56 9.02 43.26 479.84 161.91 576.19 47.28
Closing 42.10 9.40 232.50 9.00 42.60 474.50 162.00 572.80 46.70
Daily high 45.40 9.90 240.00 9.30 45.00 499.00 163.50 590.00 47.70
Daily low 41.60 9.40 232.50 8.80 42.00 472.30 160.00 570.00 46.20
Turnover in million 32.919 0.090 1.759 0.221 1.592 17.027 1.020 1.469 0.246
Latest EPS 1.56 -2.20 2.38 -1.56 2.04 5.16 6.29 4.24 3.81
Latest PE 27.4 -ve 98.6 -ve 21.2 93.0 25.7 135.9 12.4
03 05
07
09
11
13
15
17
19
23
25
27
29
31
14
16
18
20
02
04
06
08
- 1%
- 2% - 3% - 4%
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Padma Oil Co. -A Meghna Petroleum -A Active Fine Chem.-A Square Pharma -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Olympic Ind. -A
Summit Purbanchol Power-N
BDCOM Online-A
-2.01
-1.28
29.33
29.20
30.60
29.00
0.692
1.70
17.3
ANALYST
SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY
Sector Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture
Such upward movement in the indices has mainly resulted from the gains by some large cap sectors, including pharmaceuticals, banks and power
CSE Total
DSE Million Taka 662.19 677.16 284.45 1142.94 240.88 1177.20 2.04 970.86 918.16 1.61 35.46 205.12 56.73 463.29 91.90 336.79 556.71 205.78 160.17 158.58 0.86
% change 7.93 8.11 3.41 13.69 2.89 14.10 0.02 11.63 11.00 0.02 0.42 2.46 0.68 5.55 1.10 4.03 6.67 2.46 1.92 1.90 0.01
Million Taka 55.99 68.22 20.77 114.39 29.17 69.81 109.96 70.55 0.38 6.17 5.76 9.80 24.30 17.78 12.53 25.07 17.48 30.83 34.11 0.04
% change 7.74 9.43 2.87 15.82 4.03 9.65 0.00 15.21 9.76 0.05 0.85 0.80 1.36 3.36 2.46 1.73 3.47 2.42 4.26 4.72 0.01
Million Taka 718.18 745.38 305.22 1257.33 270.06 1247.01 2.04 1080.81 988.71 1.98 41.63 210.88 66.54 487.59 109.68 349.32 581.78 223.25 191.00 192.68 0.90
% change 7.92 8.22 3.36 13.86 2.98 13.75 0.02 11.91 10.90 0.02 0.46 2.32 0.73 5.37 1.21 3.85 6.41 2.46 2.11 2.12 0.01
ApexAdelchi Ftr -A Appollo Ispat CL -N People`s Leasing-A Orion Pharma-N Golden Son -A UCBL - A LafargeS Cement-Z Mozaffar H.Spinning-N BSRM Steels-A
262,000 3,983,600 5,172,784 2,080,480 2,147,748 4,506,051 3,145,500 2,923,000 1,468,644 3,191,060
Volume shares 830,575 969,695 2,478,243 796,237 2,197,175 959,279 2,169,020 1,112,829 731,284 554,800
Value in million 286.52 252.46 249.54 180.96 170.19 167.23 162.43 159.81 153.55 151.35
149.38 147.16 139.17 136.73 135.63 130.58 126.19 124.72 119.87 113.00
% of total turnover 3.43 3.02 2.99 2.17 2.04 2.00 1.95 1.91 1.84 1.81
1.79 1.76 1.67 1.64 1.62 1.56 1.51 1.49 1.44 1.35
Daily closing 346.60 260.00 102.50 229.30 77.40 172.60 74.10 141.40 208.70 272.00
563.30 37.00 27.60 65.40 63.00 29.00 40.30 42.00 83.10 36.10
Price change 4.46 2.77 5.34 3.76 1.44 0.17 0.68 -2.55 0.58 1.19
0.57 0.27 7.81 2.19 0.00 1.05 3.07 -7.28 4.40 4.03
Daily opening 331.80 253.00 97.30 221.00 76.30 172.30 73.60 145.10 207.50 268.80
10
560.10 36.90 25.60 64.00 63.00 28.70 39.10 45.30 79.60 34.70
580.00 37.50 27.90 66.90 64.00 30.00 40.50 45.30 83.50 36.30
Daily high 349.50 263.60 103.00 230.00 80.00 176.20 76.40 149.00 212.80 275.00
560.00 36.60 23.50 57.90 58.00 26.00 39.70 41.50 75.00 31.50
Daily low 310.00 245.00 90.00 210.00 69.00 163.00 68.00 139.80 206.00 270.20
Daily average 344.97 260.35 100.69 227.27 77.46 174.33 74.89 143.60 209.97 272.80
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Appollo Ispat CL -N Mozaffar H.Spinning-N People`s Leasing-A UNITED AIR A BSRM Steels-A Orion Pharma-N BSC A Active Fine Chem.-A
Generation Next Fashions-A
Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net
Meghna Petroleum -A Grameenphone-A Padma Oil Co. -A Square Pharma -A aamra technologies-A LankaBangla Fin. -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A National Bank - B Aftab Auto.-A Unique Hotel RL - N
UCBL - A
Volume shares 940,800 771,500 841,009 1,155,133 237,695 272,140 35,485 156,713 424,600 450,222
48,285 59,200 35,299 53,066 307,775 142,019 304,819 825,379 116,629 120,390
Value in million 34.94 32.92 22.49 20.43 19.46 17.89 17.03 15.76 15.14 13.06
12.59 12.46 12.18 12.04 11.41 11.03 10.95 10.78 10.76 10.40
% of total turnover 4.84 4.56 3.11 2.83 2.69 2.48 2.36 2.18 2.10 1.81
1.74 1.73 1.69 1.67 1.58 1.53 1.52 1.49 1.49 1.44
Daily closing 37.10 42.10 27.50 17.60 82.90 65.70 474.50 102.60 36.40 29.10
260.50 209.20 346.20 229.70 36.90 77.80 35.70 12.90 91.90 87.00
Price change 0.27 -7.27 8.27 -1.12 4.80 2.66 -3.36 5.66 4.30 1.04
2.72 1.01 3.93 4.22 1.37 1.83 0.85 1.57 2.00 3.33
Daily opening 37.00 45.40 25.40 17.80 79.10 64.00 491.00 97.10 34.90 28.80
253.60 207.10 333.10 220.40 36.40 76.40 35.40 12.70 90.10 84.20
263.80 212.80 351.20 230.00 37.50 78.30 36.30 13.90 93.60 87.50
Daily high 37.70 45.40 27.80 17.90 83.30 66.50 499.00 99.90 36.50 29.30
257.80 208.80 337.00 223.90 36.80 76.70 35.50 11.50 91.00 84.20
Daily low 36.70 41.60 25.60 17.60 79.80 58.00 472.30 100.00 34.70 28.70
Daily average 37.14 42.67 26.74 17.69 81.87 65.72 479.84 100.54 35.66 29.01
260.69 210.45 345.09 226.88 37.06 77.68 35.92 13.06 92.25 86.38
22
21
12
570.16 36.94 26.91 65.72 63.15 28.98 40.12 42.67 81.62 35.41
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
the money, said the BTRC sources. Of the owners, Shariful Islam owned 80,000 shares of Vision Tel Ltd, Rashel Mirza 70,000 shares and Ziaur Rahman 50,000 shares. We never found this three people. As they live in abroad, the recovery of the dues will be tough, said a BTRC officer handling the issue. The international gateway (IGW) operator provided a bank cheque to pay a part of the dues, but the cheque was dishonoured by the bank. Under the Negotiable Instruments Act, BTRC will file another legal suit for giving bank cheque dishonoured by bank. The official said the telecom regulator will also file criminal case under the telecom law against the use of equip-
B3
Emerald Oil IPO gets 39 times subscription
n Tribune Report
The initial public offering (IPO) of rice bran edible oil producer Emerald Oil has been oversubscribed by more than 39 times, indicating strong investor interest in the company. Investors ordered shares worth over Tk784 crore against the offer of Tk20 crore, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange. The company would issue 20 crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each under the fixed price method.
Of the total IPO, 10% kept for non-resident Bangladeshis, 10% for mutual funds, 20% for the investors affected by the late 2010 market crash and 60% for resident Bangladeshis
The company has been producing rice bran edible oil since 2011. Rice bran oil is the oil that is extracted from the inner husk of rice plants. The IPO proceeds will be used for repayment of term loan, IPO expenses and strengthening the capital base. The companys earnings per share was Tk2.85 and net asset value Tk14.06, according to its financial statement as of June 30, 2013. Of the total IPO, 10% kept for nonresident Bangladeshis, 10% for mutual funds, 20% for the investors affected by the late 2010 market crash and 60% for resident Bangladeshis. The subscription started from January 6, and ended on January 12 for general investors and January 21 for non-resident Bangladeshis. On November 19, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approved the IPO. l
REUTERS
Banks or financial institutions having MI Module account can collect and stored such Treasury Bills/Bonds for the clients in primary auction by opening an account named Business Partner ID
The circular reads-individuals and institutions not resident in Bangladesh shall also be eligible to purchase the
BGTBs, with coupon payments and resale/redemption proceeds transferable abroad in foreign exchange, provided that the purchase is made with funds from a non resident foreign currency account with a bank in Bangladesh in the name of purchaser and the BGTB purchased by a non resident may freely be resold to a resident in Bangladesh or to another non-resident. Banks or financial institutions having MI Module account can collect and stored such Treasury Bills/Bonds for the clients in primary auction by opening an account named Business Partner ID (BP ID). And such bonds can be sold or bought in the secondary market through OTC (over the counter), said the circular. l
B4
n Reuters
Business leaders gathering for their annual high-profile networking forum in Davos are feeling a bit better about their companies prospects and a lot more so about the broader economic outlook. But they still have a long list of worries. Half a decade on from a financial crisis that brought the world economy to the brink, the immediate threats to corporate profits are receding and chief executives are encouraged by a brightening outlook in both the United States and Europe.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
Emerging problems
Even though there is a higher degree of optimism about the global economy, there are still some pretty big challenges elsewhere to do with the volatility of certain economies, concerns around regulation and shifts in technology
Yet they do not have to look far for future threats - from a worrisome slowdown in emerging markets to uncertainty over the tapering of Federal Reserve stimulus and concerns over increased regulation. The annual PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey of more than 1,300 CEOs found that 39% were very confident their companys revenues would grow in 2014, up from 36% a
A Swiss special policeman patrols on a roof before the start of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2014 in Davos
REUTERS
year ago. While the trend is encouraging, the reading is still down on the 50%plus levels seen in 2007 and 2008, highlighting how the return to growth remains fragile and uncertain.
Significantly, CEOs were more upbeat in assessing the macroeconomic outlook than that of their own companies, with 44% now believing the global economy will improve in the next 12 months against
just 18% a year ago. The difference reflects the fact that economic issues are not the only ones weighing on executives minds, according to Dennis Nally, the chairman of PwC International, who
The weakness in some emerging markets and uncertainties about where this leaves corporate strategies is a big talking-point for many multinational companies, since it coincides with recovery in the West and signs of progress in Japans efforts to counter years of economic stagnation. In response, a number of CEOs are turning back to advanced economies for growth, with the United States, Germany and Britain now seen as more promising than previous high-flyers such as India andBrazil. Nally said the trend was a key headline for Davos 2014 - a view shared by other pundits converging on the Swiss ski resort for four days of high-level discussions and networking. Economies considered dull and old like the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan will actually turn out to be the new
NEWS IN BRIEF
Indian coal imports up 21% in 2013 - research firm
Indias coal imports rose 21% to 152 million tonnes last year as power producers bought more due to low prices and a domestic shortage, research firm OreTeam said, adding that shipments could rise to 170 million tonnes this year. Reuters
Unhealthy balances
According to the company policy, we do not comment on any speculation related with market
However, a spokesperson of Airtel Bangladesh Ltd here in Dhaka declined to make any comment on the matter. When contacted yesterday, he said: According to the company policy, we do not comment on any speculation related with market. The mobile operator expects at least $200m from divesting its towers in Airtel Bangladesh, said sources who did not wish to be named since talks are private. Bharti Airtel took full control of its mobile service operations in Bangladesh last year, buying out a 30% stake held by Warid Telecom, a whollyowned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Group. The Delhi-headquartered telco has about 6.7m subscribers in Bangladesh. Sources said the US and Middle Eastern tower management companies in some cases backed by financial investors have bid for both the Bangladesh and African assets. Bharti is possibly bolstering its war chest for the impending spectrum auction and may be looking at inorganic growth on its home turf as a new-look telecom M&A regime kicks in, the report said. The latest fundraising move coincides with Indias upcoming spectrum auction, where Airtel will be pitched against the cash-rich Vodafone and Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Jio to renew its airwaves in the 900MHz band. Sectoral analysts said the sale of tower assets could be an independent move, and possibly aimed at securing the companys balance sheet carrying a $9.3-billion debt, mainly emanating from the acquisition of Kuwaiti telecom giant Zains African unit four years ago. l
Political reforms can take on many shapes and sizes, of course - those affecting systemic stability or short-term taxation. But changes to companies' long-term financial exposure to the claims of their own employees are pretty fundamental. The annual 'Global Risks 2014' report prepared for the World Economic Forum by consultant Oliver Wyman - a report based on 700 industry leaders - cited corporate exposure to "skyrocketing" healthcare costs and "buckling"