Professional Documents
Culture Documents
DA 6238 Vol 2, No 28
www.dhakatribune.com
SECOND EDITION
Huge cache of gold recovered from flight washrooms at Dhaka airport n Mohammad Jamil Khan
In a major haul, customs officials yesterday recovered at least 906 gold bars worth around Tk47 crore from a Biman flight that landed at Shahjalal International Airport in the capital. Acting on a tip-off, the officials swooped on seven separate washrooms of Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight No. BG 058 around 1:45pm and recovered the smuggled gold, Mostafizur Rahman, deputy director of Customs Intelligence, told the Dhaka Tribune. The gold bars were found in 14 packets wrapped with black and blue clothes and the flight mechanical assistant, Anisuzzaman, was arrested, he said. Interrogating Anis and checking his cellphone, we recovered the gold bars from the washrooms, he added.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
PAGE 2 COLUMN 1
Customs officials recover a huge cache of gold from seven separate washrooms of a flight at Dhaka airport yesterday
INSIDE
Nation
6 Water level in 16 rivers including the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumor, Phulkumor, Gangadhar, Kalzani and Zinziram flowing in the district have declined significantly in recent years.
Intelligence officials asked to prepare list of Jamaat-Shibir men who were freed from jail in recent times
Meanwhile, the tribunal is also set to deliver its verdict any day in the war crimes case against Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami who is facing charges of incitement and involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liber-
Op-Ed
11 The history and heritage season is largely over with the arrival of scorching Boishakh, but the debates regarding our historical leaders refuse to wilt in the summer heat.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Suranjit: Rana Plaza victims not compensated equally n Emran Hossain Shaikh
A senior ruling party leader has alleged that compensation funds were not properly distributed among the victims of the Rana Plaza tragedy. The compensation money was not distributed properly among the affected families and rehabilitation activities have not been handled right. Even foreign funds were not distributed equally, Suranjit Sengupta, a member of Awami Leagues advisory committee, said while addressing a discussion, organised by Bangabandu Academy, in the capital yesterday. Earlier, BNP had questioned the transparency in disbursing the compensation funds collected from different organisations, including some international groups and garments businesses. Suranjit, a former minister, proposed forming a monitoring cell under the leadership of the labour minister to protect the interest of workers. It is necessary to allow workers to form trade unions, he said. He also urged immediate action for rehabilitation of the Rana Plaza victims through coordination of factory owners and the government. Meanwhile, terming BNPs recent long march towards the Teesta barrage as a political stunt, Suranjit claimed that the former opposition party did not want a Teesta water-sharing agreement with India. You have not been able to do anything for the people of the county through riding vehicles in the name of long march. You failed to involve the people and your aim did not succeed, he said. Suranjit added that the Awami League had never done any deal compromising the states interest, and would not do so in future. l
The playground of Banker Hat Cooperative College has been rented out to an Indian power company for only Tk60,000 per annum, depriving students from their right to play at the field. The picture was taken yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
A letter ordered the chairmen to prevent slow transports from plying on highways
budgets for the new fiscal year to get government allocations and creating funds from different sources to prevent misuse of public money. Citing decisions taken by the cabinet committee on law and order, one letter ordered the chairmen to prevent slow modes of transport, like easy-bikes and nosimons, from plying on high-
ways and remove roadside bazaars to avoid accidents and traffic congestion. The chairmen would have to inform the local government division about the progress of stopping the illegal local transports, and the steps taken against setting up bazaars along highways, the letter said. They were also asked to protect state-owned assets, including trees planted along highways and railway lines and forest areas. The letters, issued on April 24 and signed by LGD joint secretary Akram Al Hossain and deputy secretary Sobur Hossain, also said tough measures would be taken against those who do not comply with the orders. According to LGD officials, the instructions were given to make the new chairmen, who assumed office after the recently held local elections, aware about their duties and responsibilities. l
There is a historical background regarding the birth of Bangladesh; because as a superpower, the US government opposed the birth of our nation unlike any other superpower, he pointed out. He added that the US Bangladesh political relationship was uncomfortable. He admitted the issues of Grameen Bank and the recently concluded national election might cause Bangladesh-US relationship to become colder. Blaming the US government for Grameen Bank issue, Muhith added: They said Professor Yunus is a very honoured person in the US, so the Bangladesh government should respect him. The minister also claimed that the Bangladeshi government had no intention of dishonouring Yunus. Saying Dr Yunus had controlled the microcredit institution under martial law, Muhith added that the bank was now a well-established institution with 97% loan recovery rate. Yesterdays press conference was also attended by State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Mannan, Economic Relations Division Secretary Mohammad Mejbauddin and Additional Secretary Arastoo Khan. l
The deputy director said during primary interrogation, Anis confessed that he had link with a smuggling gang and efforts were underway to detain the remaining gang members. Being informed of the haul, National Board of Revenue Chairman Golam Rahman visited the spot. This is the second biggest gold haul. Earlier on July 23 last year, the customs officials recovered 124kg gold from a flight at the airport. Kamrul Hasan, assistant commissioner of Airport Customs, told the Dhaka Tribune the Dhaka-bound flight from Dubai landed there around 9am. Primarily we asked all passengers to come out of the flight and found the gold bars after a thorough check of the washrooms, he said. Contacted, Moinul Haque Khan, director general of Customs Intelligence, told the Dhaka Tribune the airbus was about to move towards the Hanger Complex for washing and from there the cleaners would have handed over the gold bars to their smuggling gang. The customs officials also recovered the biggest cache of 124kg gold smuggled into Bangladesh the same way. In recent times, gold seizure from the airport has been very common. Last Monday, 20-kg gold was recovered after searching three woman bodies. A day after that, 2kg gold was recovered and finally 3kg gold was recovered on Friday. According to sources, the Indian gov-
ernment has increased its import duty on gold from 10% to 15% on September last year. The Customs Director General, Moinul Khan, said due to hike in import duty on gold, smugglers were busy making some quick bucks by re-smuggling gold into India through Bangladesh. The smugglers are bringing gold from the Middle East to Bangladesh and smuggling that into India using different routes. The official said gold rate between Dubai and Bangladesh varied a minimum of Tk8,000 per tola, and for this reason, a number of Bangladeshi gold traders were allegedly engaged in such smuggling of gold. We have increased our intelligence vigilance in recent times and as a result of which we have recovered smuggled gold, he added. Although smuggled gold is being recovered, the masterminds are always remaining untraced. According to the airport source, around 3,600 individuals including airline crew members, civil aviation staff, customs and immigration officials, members of National Security Intelligence and Ansar members had been arrested for complicity in smuggling over the last three years by APBn, Customs, Immigration and Rapid Action Battalion. Of the arrestees, 89 were airlines employees including nine female flight attendants, 396 belong to Civil Aviation of Bangladesh, 34 were customs and immigration officials and 210 Ansar members. l
organising the party and trying to bring out other leaders now in jail. The alleged criminals of Jamaat-Shibir who are at the helm to implement their plan are Saifullah Khaled, Ziaur Rahman, Mahmudul Hassan, Rayhan Ahmed, Al-Amin, Sadeq Al-Hossain, Mohiuddin, Mamunur Rahman, Suzauddin, Saifur Rahman, KM Kamal Uddin, Mamun, Abdullah Al-Azim, Shamsuzzaman, Faruq Hossain, Khalilur Rahman, Asaduzzaman Mamun, Zakirullah Haque, Md Shafiullah, Ismail Nazim, Monirul Islam, Mohabbet Ali, Abul Kashem, Jalal Uddin, Hafizur Rahman, Habibur Rahman, Naimul Is-
lam and Shakhawat Hossain. Most of these top cadres are expert in carrying out an act of sabotage. They have taken special training about it in the last two years, intelligence sources say. The law enforcers have also decided to keep eye on madrasas and student messes in the capital, and Satkhira, Joypurhat, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Khulna, Jessore, Sylhet and Comilla districts. Moreover, three public universities Rajshahi, Chittagong and Islamic University in Kushtia would be given special priority. According to sources, upon getting special instruction from the Police Headquarters, the superintendents of
police in all districts have already asked the OCs of all police stations to conduct special drives if information came from anywhere about suspected subversive activities. As part of precautionary measures, the intelligence agencies have been asked to strictly monitor Facebook activities of the suspects. In most cases of the past, it was found that the Jamaat-Shibir men motivate the ordinary Muslims by providing false and fabricated information about its party leaders and activists, especially those facing trials for the 1971 crimes. After the Sayedee verdict of February last year, the Jamaat-Shibir men spread
a rumour that the senior Jamaat leader, who was then in jail, was seen in the moon. The people mainly in the villages were asked to free the leader from jail and street demonstrations sparked massive violence between the Jamaat-Shibir supporters and the law enforcers. Many ordinary people and a number of police were also killed during the violent attacks by the Jamaat-Shibir. We have a general instruction for the law enforcers to remain alert so that the supporters of Jamaat-Shibir cannot carry out destructive activities centring the verdicts of Jamaat leaders, Additional Secretary (political) of the Home Ministry Kamal Uddin Ahmed said. l
Sayedee Mukti Sangram Parishad includes banner advertising and door-todoor activities. A private bank employee and Jamaat sympathiser Nayan, who lives in Mirpur 10, said a team came to him and demanded Tk2,000. Jamaat activists were also seen campaigning in Chittagong, Laxmipur, Chandpur, Noakhali and Comilla for fund collection, hanging banner vehemently in front of lawmen. They were urging like-minded people to donate through mobile money transfer, said our sources. Asked about it, Shibir Press Secre-
tary Abu Saleh Yahia said thus they collected fund from their activists and supporters to run the organisation. Abu Saleh Yahia, however, ruled out the notion that the fund-collection system was a kind of extortion. According to Rezaul Karim, former Shibir central president and Jamaat central leader, Sayedee Mukti Sangram Parishad does not belong to Jamaat. His fans have formed it. The party insiders say general people will also participate in the campaign that will be launched for Sayedees release. They also think it will be an opportunity for Jamaat to secure release of all party leaders at a time.
Jamaat and its students wing Islami Chhatra Shibir yesterday observed a countrywide demonstration that resulted in clashes between the party members and lawmen. Several senior Jamaat leaders told the Dhaka Tribune if the verdict went against Sayedee they would impose a nonstop blockade in upazilas and districts known for Jamaat strongholds. The party has also a plan to persist with their blockade programmes till all its leaders including Sayedee branded as war criminals are released from prison. Jamaat leaders also said they were bracing for all odds, even repression by law enforcers, keeping in mind police
crackdown on Hefazats May 5 rally last year. A highly placed source told the Dhaka Tribune Jamaat had already instructed their leaders and activists to gear up for any action necessary to take Jamaat leaders out of jails. It vowed that Jamaat-Shibir was ready to face any crackdown by law enforcers and the Awami League activists violence against them. Jamaat central leader Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher said Jamaat activists were very active in all programmes and the trend of their spontaneous participation in party activities would continue in days to come. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Wet laundries are seen hanging from a balcony of Dhaka Medical College yesterday, posing great risks to high-voltage lines that might catch fire any moment
RAJIB DHAR
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina poses for a photo after a meeting with cabinet secretaries and equivalent officers of the Saarc member countries yesterday at Ganabhaban
PMO
We are working to deal with all possible violent activities after the delivery of the verdict in Sayedee appeals case
Addressing the inauguration programme as chief guest, he said a total 17 policemen had sacrificed their lives and more than 3,000 policemen were injured during the pre- and post-national election violence, while around 300 policemen still receiving treatment. Former Chittagong City Corporation mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, who is also the president of the city unit of Awami League, addressed the programme as special guest. CMP Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam presided over the programme where Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Mohammad Abdullah and Chittagong Range Deputy Inspector General Nowsher Ali were also present. l
BGMEA President Atiqul Islam poses for a photo during the opening of an orphanage for the children of those killed in Rana Plaza disaster . The programme was organised in the National Press Club yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Environmental activists form a human chain on boats on the Sitalakhya River yesterday, demanding preservation of the rivers bio-diversity from pollution
FOCUS BANGLA
Construction of 14 fuel An emotional return of a French journalist storage tanks at Mongla n Port awaits approval
Tazlina Zamila Khan
n UNB
A tender proposal of Tk145 crore on setting up of 14 petroleum storage tanks in Mongla Port area is likely to be considered by the Cabinet Purchase Committee in its any meeting. Once the tanks are built, the storage capacity of the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) will increase by 100,000 tonnes against its present storage capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. BPC Chairman Yunusur Rahman said the storage tanks would also provide an alternative fuel storage arrangement alongside its existing storage in Patenga in Chittagong port areas. He said BPC has selected a firm for the project and its proposal was forwarded to the Energy Ministry three months ago for the Cabinet Purchase Committees approval. Yunus, however, would not give details of the tender proposals. Officials said the growing demand for petroleum fuel, particularly for the liquid fuel-based rental and quick power plants, has heavily pushed up the requirement for more fuel storage spaces. In the last few years, the annual
consumption of petroleum fuel has increased to 5.5 million in 2014 from 3.2 million in 2009 following the installation of 2,200 MW rental and quick rental power plants where BPC is responsible for their fuel supply. According to Energy Ministry officials, the BPC has selected the proposal of a local joint-venture firm among three qualified bidders for awarding the contract to build up the fuel reservoirs. Of the firms, Maxwell Engineering Limited-Pipeliners Limited became the first lowest bidder offering a cost of Tk155.98 crore for the construction of the 14 fuel tankers while MBEL CPCL (JV) emerged as the second lowest bidder with its offer of Tk159.31 crore as cost. Local firm Dipon Gas Company was the third lowest bidder offering a cost at Tk192.50 crore. Officials said all the tender offers were above the approved project cost of Tk144.89 crore as per revised development project profile (RDPP). But, the officials claimed that the Maxwell had finally agreed to slash its offer to Tk 145crore from its original offer of Tk155.98 crore through negotiations. l
Visiting veteran French journalist Bernerd-Henri Lvy yesterday said it was a great feeling for him to visit Bangladesh after 43 years of its independence, a visit he believed would never be possible in his lifetime. Bernerd was one of those foreign journalists who witnessed and reported on the birth of Bangladesh from the battleground during the 1971 Liberation War. I could not believe that I could ever come back to Bangladesh in my lifetime. For me, it is a great feeling, he said while sharing his experience at a seminar, titled Philosophy and Commitment: For a philosophy of action, organised by Alliance Franaise de Dhaka and hosted by University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB). The programme was hosted on the main campus of ULAB in Dhanmondi area yesterday. He said: On my second day in Dhaka, I am deeply moved. The Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was in Dhaka when I was here for the first time. I understood the tragedies of a war. I understand how intellectuals could be targeted. Bangladesh succeeded in such a short time. The young people sitting here know how rare it was. I do not know of other such an example in history. From ground zero after the creation of the nation, Bangladesh had reached a satisfactory level, the French journalist noted.
Bernerd said: Still the exact figure of the victims of the war is not known. It is very hard for a county to go forward with such a big hole in its memory. He called upon the international community to come forward for a deep investigation to figure out the exact number of victim in the Liberation War. His first book, Les Indes Rouges, where he recalled his experience in Bangladesh during its birth, has been translated in Bangla for the first time. Alliance Franaise de Dhaka Director M Olivier Litvine said he brought a book called Bangladesh Nationalism in the liberation war. The only copy was available at the time in French written by Bernerd-Henri Lvy. Among others, ULAB Vice Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman, ULAB Trustee Board Vice
President Dr Kazi Anis Ahmed, ULAB Registrar Lt Col (retd) Md Foyzul Islam, were also present at the seminar. Earlier in the day, Bernard paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her Gonobhaban residence. Bangladesh was a colonial province and Bangabandhu rebuilt the country as a complete independent country in only three and a half years, which was unprecedented in the world, he said during the call. He further added that the name of Bangabandhu will be always be remembered as a revolutionary leader. Praising the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, he also said Bangladesh had emerged as a model of a modern democratic nation in the global arena. l
Bernerd-Henri Lvy
RAJIB DHAR
WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER
SUNDAY, APRIL 27
DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:25PM SUN RISES 5:27AM FORECAST FOR TODAY
Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar 41 34 41 40 40 38 38 34 27 27 27 25 26 27 23 26
41.3C Chuadanga
Source: Accuweather/UNB
22.2C Syedpur
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 4:07am 5:26am 11:56am 4:32pm 6:25pm 7:46pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
Members of the Ongohin Protibondhi Samity, a organisation of physically-challenged individuals, form a human chain in front of the National Press Club, demanding government jobs and other faciltities NASHIRUL ISLAM
6
Life, bio-diversity at stake
n Our Correspondent, Kurigram
Water level in 16 rivers including the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Dharla, Dudhkumor, Phulkumor, Gangadhar, Kalzani and Zinziram flowing in the district have declined significantly in recent years. Most of the parts of the rivers have dried up which have turned into a canal in the current dry season. Water vehicle movements and agriculture are being hampered seriously. Many chars have developed which turned into a sandy and desert. The river routes of Jatrapur under Kurigram Sadar upazila, Roumari and Rajibpur upazila are at stake. Navigability has fallen drastically in the areas. Meanwhile, several river routes have been closed, local sources said. Environmentalists say the reduced flows are linked to climate change and will have a major impact as the human population grows. Abdul Gafur, chairman of Jatrapur union council, said: " Water vehicle movements and agriculture are being hampered seriously as the Brahmaputra and Dudhkumor rivers run dry in the area."
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
The recent photo shows the Atrai river in Manda upazila of Naogaon district almost dries up during summer
DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Special
n AK Fazlul Huq, Jr
he three-storied picturesque 19th-century-mansion that once stood on a corner of a total land area of over 5 bigha, surrounded by a pond on one side, at 27, KM Das Lane, Tikatuli, was our permanent residence until the mid-90s, where we spent most of our halcyon days of childhood, and where the fond memories now lie buried under its high-rise condominiums. It was also the home where late Sher-e-Bangla Abul Kasem Fazlul Huq would breathe his last exactly 52 years ago, on this day. Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, popularly known as Huq Shaheb, was born into a respectable and wellknown middle class Muslim family in his mothers town, Saturia (under the then Bakerganj District), present day Jhalokathi District on October 26, 1873. His brilliant and extraordinary career made him a living legend in his time and a household name for the generations thenceforth, and therefore, to attempt a thorough summari-
For a while, the two of them [Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy] were called Prime Minister of Pakistan. Fazlul Huq was not. But only he was spoken of as the Royal Bengal Tiger Rajmohan Gandhi timent that the latter took up the challenge and halfway down the academic calendar, changed his Masters degree subject to Mathematics (in which he later secured First Class First). As for Mr X, he had to obviously cower in shame after having been confuted and taught a lesson by a man almost half his age! In fact, 1940 was the year when Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq was called to move the historic Lahore Resolution, which he jointly drafted with another Muslim League stalwart, Chowdhury Khaliquzzaman. Legend has it that at this Lahore session, when Mr Huq arrived, there was a spontaneous and positive round of applause. As Mr Huq slowly made his way up the rostrum, Mr Jinnah (Pakistans first Governor-General and Father of the Nation) found himself in an awkward position; ie, Jinnahs ongoing speech was drowned by the public outburst that welcomed Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq with open arms, compelling Mr Jinnah to retire with, When the Tiger had come, the Lamb should definitely give way! In a touching incident, the then Chief Minister Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, accompanied by his wife, late Khadija Begum, was invited to approve a piece of land at 22, Hare Road, Dhaka, of late Altaf Gauhar (the Premiers private secretary) proposed for conversion into the chief ministers home. The same land was home to a large mansion, and its landmark, a banyan tree on its front lawn. Though at first Mr Huq was determined to approve the proposal, as he was getting into his car, he noticed Mr Altafs children playing under the said tree and inquired, Where will they play when you shift into an apartment? Mr Altaf paused for a second and limited to, students, the destitute, and shrines. On one such occasion and in the midst of examining his legal briefs, he was interrupted by a group of students trying to raise funds for a milad. Mr Huq patiently listened to the students, and then, without reservations, reached into his rickety old drawer and said to have pulled out a ten-taka note (which was considered a lot of money in those days). Moreover, whenever he encountered a stranger in need, he would reach down his pocket and hand out whatever sum his palms could accommodate; a distinctive propensity of the legendary leader still a rarity in todays so-called politicians. In fact, Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq provided people loans even when he was repaying his own debts. On one particular occasion, the situation was such, he asked his chauffeur to lend him money so he could buy sweets for a family invitation! Obviously, the chauffeur obliged and was later repaid more than he had lent, but one can only imagine the chauffeurs reaction, and the pride it was to come in handy for a man of such high political stature and reverence. Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huqs compassion for the poor was so genuine, he helped enforce the Bengal Agriculture Debtors Act in 1938, which effectively protected the agriculturists from the control of usurious creditors. He was also responsible for setting-up the Debt Settlement
Jinnahs ongoing speech was drowned by the public outburst that welcomed Sher-E Bangla AK Fazlul Huq with open arms, compelling Mr Jinnah to retire with, When the Tiger had come, the Lamb should definitely give way!
sation of it here would not do justice to the late illustrious leader of the entire Indian subcontinent. Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, a meritorious student in his youth, had passed both his Entrance and Intermediate Exams with distinction under the then Dhaka Board. Thereafter, he went on to obtain his higher degree with triple honors in Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics from Calcutta University, and that, securing First Division in all three academic subjects something quite unheard of then, and still somewhat rare today! When the late Tiger of Bengal had decided to take up English Literature for his Masters degree, he was confronted by a gentleman and a friend of his father (let us provisionally call him Mr X), of Hindu faith, abroad a steamer they were both travelling on. According to the consistent facts and reliable sources from the past (in particular, my late father and the only son of the Sher-e-Bangla, Mr X struck up a conversation with Mr Huq abroad that steamer, and it was one of the most unfriendly yet historic and memorable conversations, per se. Mr X passed a snide remark in the context of how academically weak the Muslim boys and girls of Bengal were, in particular, in the subject of Mathematics, and Mr Huq was anything but pleased to hear such an uncouth and inconsiderate statement. Mr Xs comment had such a profound impact on the young mans sen-
Two years later, Mr Huq went onto pursue a degree in Law, completed his LLB, and started his career as an article clerk under the legendary Bangali educator and jurist, Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee. Sir Ashutosh Mukherjee, father of late Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee, treated Mr Huq as his own son, and needless to say, Mr Huq was the first Muslim (Law graduate) taken in as Sir Ashutoshs junior. As fate would have it, Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee would later lend his support to see Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq reelected as the chief (ie., prime) minister of undivided Bengal for a second term and serve as the latters Finance Minister. Even the honorary title of Shere-Bangla (which translates to The Tiger of Bengal) prefixed to AK Fazlul Huqs name, has a true story behind it. In 1937, when the late Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq was in his prime and serving as the chief minister of undivided Bengal, he was invited to address the Lucknow conference of the All India Muslim League. It was there that he delivered such an awe-inspiring fiery speech, it instantly earned him the title amidst the well-deserved standing ovation. It has been observed by the Huq family that some ignorant historians have a habit of distorting the facts and erroneously penning-in, inter alia, that the conferment of the Sher-e-Bangla title was at Lahore in 1940; this is not the case.
Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq ties by virtue of the Lucknow Pact. At the very end of his life, when he made an effort to write his autobiography, he felt it impossible to contain it all in just one volume, and withdrew with, I do not remember very much of what I have been or done. Perhaps, his sorrow was greater than that: the man who passionately dedicated a significant portion of his life for the betterment of his people and his motherland, Bengal, died a lonely death. Rajmohan Gandhi, a biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, in his historical book Understanding the Muslim Mind, had this to say of the late Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq: He who in 1943 had wanted to see Nazimuddin and Suhrawardy bite the dust now shares the same stretch of earth with them. All three are buried, side by side, in the grounds of the Dhaka High Court. For a while, the two of them were called Prime Minister of Pakistan. Fazlul Huq was not. But only he was spoken of as the Royal Bengal Tiger. Indeed, Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq was second to none. l AK Fazlul Huq, Jr is a barrister (Middle Temple, UK) and an advocate at AM Amin Uddin & Associates.
WIKIMEDIA
His brilliant and extraordinary career made him a living legend in his time and a household name for the generations thenceforth
it was enough for Mr Huq to seriously reconsider; the latter had changed his mind there and then; ie, not to deprive the children of their playground. In fact, the incident moved Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq so much, he permanently settled at his old address, 27, KM Das Lane, Tikatuli. Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq was also of an altruistic nature, benevolent, yet, at times, rendered insolvent: he ran into innumerable debts through his donations and financial support to categories of which included, but not
Boards in all parts of Bengal, tremendously improving the daily lives of peasants. Political leaders will come and go, but there will not be another Sher-eBangla AK Fazlul Huq. Undeniably, Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq, the man who simultaneously held the posts of the President of All India Muslim League and the General Secretary of the All India National Congress, was also concurrently responsible and instrumental (in 1918) for the unity of Hindu and Muslim communi-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
Israeli soldiers take position during clashes with Palestinian protesters (unseen) following a weekly demonstration against the expansion of settlements in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on April 25, near Ramallah. Israel and the Palestinians were back to square one in the peace process after Israel torpedoed US-sponsored talks in response to a Fatah-Hamas reconciliation deal AFP
Abbas also reiterated that the Palestinians would never recognise Israel as the Jewish state, saying they recognised it as a state in 1993 and shouldnt have to accept its religious identity, which has been a central demand made by Netanyahu. The Palestinian leader pointed out that no similar demand was made of Egypt or Jordan when they signed peace treaties recognising Israel. The dispute over recognition and Israels continuing construction of settlements in the occupied territories presented major obstacles to US Secretary of State John Kerrys dogged efforts to coax the two sides towards a historic peace agreement. l
Western intel suggests Syria can still G7 leaders agree on produce chemical arms new Russia sanctions
n Reuters, United Nations
Syria maintains an ability to deploy chemical weapons, diplomats say, citing intelligence from Britain, France and the United States that could strengthen allegations Syrias military recently used chlorine gas in its bloody civil war. The comments reflect a growing conviction among Western capitals that President Bashar al-Assad has failed to come clean about Syrias chemical weapons program despite his promises to end it, and they insist the United States and its allies will resist calls by Assad to shut down a special international chemical disarmament mission set up to deal with Syria. Syria denies it maintains the capacity to deploy chemical weapons, calling the allegation a US and European attempt to use their childish policies to blackmail Assads government. But in a tacit acknowledgement of the original declarations incompleteness, Syria earlier this month submitted a more specific list of its chemical weapons to the international disarmament mission after discrepancies were reported by inspectors on the ground, officials said. Diplomats say Western governments have long suspected Syria did not declare all aspects of its chemical arms program. But the envoys say they have kept silent on the issue to avoid giving Assad an excuse to curtail cooperation with the UN OPCW mission and slow down an already delayed timetable for shipping toxins out of the country. With more than 90 percent of Syrias declared chemical stockpiles now out of the country, Western officials have started to break their silence. l
n Reuters, Slaviansk
Leaders of the Group of Seven major economies agreed to impose extra sanctions on Russia over its intervention inUkraine, where armed pro-Moscow separatists detained a group of international observers and accused them of being Nato spies. The United States said its part of the new punitive measures, which US officials said would target cronies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, could be unveiled as early as Monday unless Russiamoved fast to defuse theUkrainecrisis. In a joint statement, the G7 leaders said Russia had not taken any concrete steps to implement an accord, signed in Geneva, that was intended to rein in illegal armed groups. Instead, it has continued to escalate tensions by increasingly concerning rhetoric and ongoing threatening military maneuvers on Ukraines border, it said. We have now agreed that we will move swiftly to impose additional sanctions on Russia ... We have committed to act urgently to intensify targeted sanctions and measures to increase the costs of Russias actions. Russia denies it is to blame for the crisis in eastern Ukraine, where armed pro-Russian separatists have taken control of about a dozen officials buildings are
defying the rule of the Western-backed government in the capital, Kiev. The Kremlin argues that the crisis began when a new leadership took over in Kiev, in what Moscow calls a coup detat, and started persecuting the Russian-speaking community in the east for wanting closer ties with Russia. The crisis has brought relations between Russia and the West to their lowest level since the Cold War, and is increasingly turning into a military stand-off. Russia has massed troops and helicopters on the border with Ukraine where it says they are conducting exercises, while Nato has deployed extra forces in eastern Europe, saying they are needed to reassure its allies. Meanwhile, the international observers were being held in the eastern city of Slaviansk, a flashpoint between the Moscow-backed separatists who control the city, and Kievs forces who are trying to squeeze them out. They were part of a German-led monitoring mission visiting the area under the aegis of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), a Vienna-based body whose 57 member states include Russia. The group was made up of eight observers, including nationals from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland and the Czech Republic, along with several Ukrainian army officers who were accompanying them, the OSCE said. l
Dying British teenager raises record sum for charity n AFP, London
A terminally-ill teenager has broken all records on the JustGiving fundraising website by breaking the 2.5 million ($4.2 million, three million euro) mark yesterday in donations to charity. Stephen Sutton, 19, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at 15, but despite surgery, the cancer spread, and doctors concluded it was incurable. He has smashed his original target of raising 10,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, though he feared he might not live to see the 1 million mark achieved a figure hit on Wednesday after his right lung collapsed. I am feeling well and would describe my current situation as stable, said a Facebook post from Sutton late Friday. The last few days have showed me truly how amazing people and the world can be. More than 100,000 individual donations have been made. The largest individual donation previously received by the Teenage Cancer Trust was 500,000. l
DOUBLE CANONISATION
Preparations are underway a day before the canonisation of Popes John XXIII and John Paul II on St Peters square on April 26 at the Vatican. Popes John Paul II and John XXIII will join the roster of saints at a historic Vatican ceremony today seen as an attempt to unite conservatives and reformists, with some 800,000 pilgrims expected in Rome. The double canonisation of two of modern-day Catholicisms most influential figures will be presided over by Pope Francis AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
n AFP, Mazar-I-Sharif
The death toll from flash floods in northern Afghanistan rose to more than 100 yesterday with many others still missing, officials said, as helicopters carried trapped villagers to safety. The national disaster management authority told AFP that 58 people were killed in Jowzjan province, 32 in Faryab, six in Sar-e-Pul and six others in Badghis as floods struck a large swath of rural communities. OCHA, the United Nations humanitarian affairs office, said it had reports from provincial officials of 123 people killed, with Jowzjan province alone suffering 80 deaths and 6,000 displaced people. It said clean water, medical supplies, food and shelter were needed immediately as relief efforts got under way after days of torrential rain. The floodwaters swept through villages, engulfing thousands of homes and leaving many people seeking safety on the roofs of their mudbrick houses. Unfortunately, we have over 100 people killed and dozens of others missing due to flash floods in four northern provinces, Mohammad Sadeq Sediqqi, of the national disaster management authority, told AFP. The Afghan defence ministry sent two helicopters to Jowzjan, where the aircraft rescued more than 1,000 people and carried them to higher ground. Officials in Faryab province said nearly 2,000 houses were washed away and more than 8,000 cattle were killed by the floods. Authorities said food and other emergency supplies were being distributed, as well as cash hand-outs. President Hamid Karzai in a statement said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and property, and ordered relief work to be stepped up. l
Afghan relatives of victims of the countrys war lay flowers alongside coffins symbolising those killed during a memorial ceremony in front of the destroyed palace of Darul Aman in Kabul on April 25 AFP
Muslims feel Lalu Prasad, not Nitish Kumar, can stop Modi
n Agencies, Patna
It was an alliance that nearly didnt take place and now its the one to watch out for in Bihar. RJD and Congress have come together after they split in 2009, having realized how they faltered fighting separately and against each other getting six out of Bihars 40 seats. In comparison, BJP JD(U) had swept Bihar with 34 seats. Today, Nitish Kumars JD(U) is plowing a lonely furrow, and is up against a resurgent Congress-RJD NCP alliance that has emerged as a potent force, becoming the first choice of 26% Muslims and Yadavs in Bihar. Nitish Kumars messy parting with BJP in 2013 appears not to have impressed Muslim voters, who are rooting for Lalu. After three phases of polling that covered 50% of Bihars seats, there is a spring in the steps of RJD and Congress busybodies who now look sure of reviving their electoral fortune. Enthused by the overwhelming response, especially in Muslim pockets, Lalu is claiming he will improve even on his 2004 Lok Sabha performance when the Congress-RJD alliance, along with then ally LJP, had walked away with 29 of the 40 seats. It would be a tall order to repeat that: RJD had then won in 22 constituencies, LJP in four and Congress in three seats. RJD in 2009 was the largest constituent of UPA I after Congress. An analysis of the voting pattern of different communities in 20 seats in the last three phases and interviews with a cross-section of voters reveals Congress-RJD candidates are in a good position on 10 seats, with the BJP LJP alliance looking good in the other 10. Its an even battle so far, with a slight advantage to the BJP-led alliance, said a political analyst in Patna. BJP, which had won 12 seats in 2012, is likely to improve its tally riding the Modi wave, and both the saffron party and RJD are gaining at the cost of JD(U), the political analyst added. l
South Korean Buddhist followers march with lanterns tied with yellow ribbons of hope for a safe return for missing passengers of the sunken ferry during the Lotus Lantern Festival in downtown Seoul on April 26. Warrants for the arrest of the remaining crew members of the ferry were to be issued yesterday, a prosecutor said, as the search for bodies was suspended due to bad weather AFP
Bali hijack alert 50 days on: Hunt for Obama reminds N Korea of military might passenger mistook ens the United States and South Korea and greater security. Reuters, Seoul MH370 set to be extended n North Korea is already subject to UN with destruction. cockpit for toilet We dont use our military might sanctions over its previous three atomPresident Barack Obama said yesterday The search for MH370 is the longest the United States did not use its mili- to impose these things on others, but ic tests. Recent satellite data shows n Agencies n Reuters, Perth and most expensive in aviation history, tary might to impose things on oth- we will not hesitate to use our military continued work at the nuclear test site
An Australian passenger who sparked a hijack alert on a flight to Bali has denied being drunk and claimed he banged on the door of the cockpit after mistaking it for the toilet, Indonesian police said. Matt Christopher Lockley also said he was in a state of depression during the Virgin Australia flight on Friday to the resort island, as he was searching for his Indonesian wife with whom he had lost contact, they said. Security forces rushed to the airport on the Indonesian island when the Boeing 737-800 from Brisbane touched down following a report from the pilot of a hijacking attempt after a passenger started thumping on the cockpit door. Lockley, wearing flip-flops, white shorts and a T-shirt, was dragged off the plane by heavily armed air force personnel and arrested by police. The alert prompted a shutdown of the airport and the diversion of several flights. Indonesian officials initially said he had been drunk but police said Saturday the 28-year-old, who is in custody but has been admitted to hospital suffering from fatigue, has denied being under the influence of alcohol.l The undersea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 is to be extended beyond the small area identified as its most likely resting place as the quest for any sign of the missing plane entered its 50th day yesterday. The submarine drone Bluefin 21 has so far searched about 95 percent of a 10 square km (6.2 square mile) area of the Indian Ocean seabed, pinpointed after the detection of acoustic pings believed to be from the planes black box flight recorders. Bluefin 21 had to abort the search on Friday and resurface due to a software malfunction. Technicians fixed the drone overnight and its 14th, 16 hour trip to the sea floor at depths of more than 4.5 km (2.8 miles) was underway on Saturday. If no contacts of interest are made, Bluefin-21 will continue to examine the areas adjacent to the 10km radius, Australias Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) in charge of the search said in a statement. Flight MH370 disappeared without a trace on March 8 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 people on board. with ships and aircraft from some two dozen nations taking part. The air and sea search continued on Saturday with up to 8 military aircraft and 11 ships. A US defense official told Reuters on Friday that the sea search is likely to drag on for years as it enters the much more difficult phase of scouring broader areas of the ocean near where the plane is believed to have crashed. Speaking under condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment on the search effort, the official said Malaysia would have to decide how to proceed with the search, including whether to bring in more underwater drones. The Australian and Malaysian governments are under pressure to show what lengths they are prepared to go to in order to give closure to the grieving families of those on board flight MH370. Malaysia is also under growing pressure to improve its disclosure about its investigation. Prime Minister Najib Razak told CNN on Thursday his government would make public a preliminary report into the planes disappearance next week. l ers, but that it would use that might if necessary to defend South Korea from any attack by the reclusive North. Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye presented a united front against North Korea at a joint news conference following their summit on Friday, warning that they would respond firmly to any provocations by Pyongyang which routinely threatmight to defend our allies and our way of life, Obama told cheering US forces at the Yongsan garrison on a sunny spring morning. So like all nations on Earth, North Korea and its people have a choice. They can choose to continue down a lonely road of isolation, or they can choose to join the rest of the world and seek a future of greater opportunity, in North Korea, although experts analyzing the data say that preparations do not appear to have progressed far enough for an imminent test. Adding to tensions surrounding Obamas visit to South Korea, the North announced on Friday it had detained a 24-year-old American this month who demanded asylum after arriving in the country on a tourist visa. l
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
obert Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Committee of Foreign Relations, has said the US would not buy clothes from Bangladesh as they were stained with the blood of Bangladeshi workers. The senator went on to threaten that soon, the made in Bangladesh label may become tarnished beyond repair in the eyes of Western buyers. While we agree that the BGMEA should do everything it can to improve labour and safety standards in the garment industry, we find the senators admonition to be hypocritical and counterproductive. The US has been importing clothing from Bangladesh for quite some time, happily exploiting many of the realities of our business sector for its own gain. To now suddenly boycott Bangladeshi RMG products serves the interests of neither country. The garment sector is a key economic driver of Bangladesh. Despite the imperfections of the industry, the sector employs millions of poor people and makes up a significant portion of our GDP. Foreign retailers have been all too happy to buy cheap clothing from Bangladesh while making steep profits in their own local markets. Senator Menendezs threat smacks of insincerity and political opportunism. The fact is that US retailers who squeeze every last cent out of RMG manufacturers are every bit as culpable for the plight of Bangladeshi garment workers. Threatening to put millions out of work is no solution, it is simply political posturing and moral grandstanding under the guise of humanitarian concern. If Menendez cared one whit about Bangladeshi garment workers he would not make such unhelpful and incendiary comments. Let us hope that the senators words do not at all reflect either the prevailing sentiment or the policy direction in Washington.
April 25 In this country, a litre of Milk Vita cow milk costs Tk62 whereas, last month, it was Tk58. Nearly 50% of children here arent able to drink milk, a great source of nutrition, due to low production and a supply shortage. One might recall that in the 90s, the then BNP-led government imposed a high customs duty and supplementary duty on the import of powdered milk to encourage its production and to make the country self-sufficient. Subsequent governments have followed the same policy. However, production has not increased significantly so the masses can avail it. Instead, only the well-off can afford it, due to the short supply and high prices. Even many in the middle-class seldom prepare food with milk. Up until the middle of the last century, drinking milk and eating foods made from milk were common for us. Milk is said to be an ideal food for all. The government needs to review its policy of high customs duty, VAT and supplementary duty on the import of powdered milk. It needs to withdraw these duties and make milk accessible to more people. Mohd Ashraf Hossain
April 22 What a claim! As for those who have had their certificates frozen, who dont have one in hand, what are they going to do?? Muktir Dip
April 20 Irie Keith Garcia People For me, there is nothing more important than being This makes me wonder about the Bangladesh safe. Right now offenders like these abductors are Chhatra League activists. The BCL has also allegedly everywhere and may attack you and your family in carried out such heinous activities. But havent they no time. And also we can never predict what will also suffered and lost their own men? Dont they happen to us. We should always take certain actions feel the pain of this loss? If they really did feel it, for this not to happen and not just rely on other they would stop these activities and take up good people to do it for us. projects.
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Be Heard
Bangladeshi musicians should be paid when their songs are played on radio and TV
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Summit (4) 3 Needy (4) 7 Monkey (3) 8 Labours (5) 11 Dry (4) 12 Narrow places (5) 13 Out of order (5) 15 Mines (4) 18 After proper time (4) 19 Skin disease (5) 20 Bellows (5) 21 Sibilate (4) 23 Concretion of nacre (5) 24 United (3) 25 Daybreak (4) 26 Expensive (4) DOWN 1 Starry (6) 2 Bring out (6) 4 Rowing implement (3) 5 Narcotic (6) 6 Blushing (3) 9 Unlucky contestants (6) 10 Distress signal (3) 11 Be eager (6) 14 Yachting station (6) 16 Mad (6) 17 Tar (6) 19 Faucet (3) 21 Bricks carrier (3) 22 Ply the needle (3)
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How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no numberrepeating.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
Married at twelve
hen Shonkori prepared egg curry that Friday afternoon for a visitor, she didnt know she would be married to him by evening. Shonkoris mother drowned several years earlier from a fit of hysteria when she jumped into a river. Shonkoris father remarried, and Shonkori and her younger siblings moved in with her maternal aunt. Shonkoris older brother went into bonded labour to support his siblings, and Shonkori stayed in school. Her father rarely visited, but that Friday morning he came by in great spirits, and gave her a sari. He left saying he was going to visit friends. He returned an hour later, grinning, and asked her to prepare some lunch for four friends who would be visiting. The four friends, two brothers and their parents, came and ate. They didnt speak much to her, only asked what her age was (12), what grade she was in (VI), and whether she could cook (of course). When they left, her SYED LATIF HOSSAIN father informed her that the younger man, 30, would be her husband, and the wedding would be that very night at her aunts house. Best of all, the family had not asked for any dowry! This, he insisted, was because of the negotiating power of the ghotok (match-maker) who was a friend indeed, and was charging them only a reasonable fee of Tk2,000 for his service. we can see the hero archetype at play. Shonkori wept in her aunts arms, Communists, for all their dialectic saying she didnt want to marry this materialism of impersonal historman, for she was already in love ical forces, proved the most adept with someone else. The boy was fair, practitioners of hero archetype, as educated (grade X in her school), and evidenced by the personality cults from a good family. Her aunt explained of Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. When we gently that a boy from a good family laugh at images of Putins semi-naked would never marry her, that the rich machismo, we fail to see how effective look down on the poor , and besides, this crude propaganda is in fulfilling the Russian ideal of heroic leadership. the man her father had chosen was a widower with a young son. This son BNP leadership has decided that at had lost his mother, just as Shonkothis time of crisis, the most effective rallying idea for their party supporters, ri had, and it was hoped she would understand his hurt and perhaps give weak and strong, is not a burning contemporary issue, but refurbishing Zias him the love he so desperately needed. role in our history. They are, in effect, trying to give the sense of deep meaning and shared ideals to the supporters. The effectiveness of this effort will only be known in time, but we should see that this may not be a frivolous campaign with no forethought. For all its power and prevalence, the hero archetype is largely receding from the mainstream political discourse in advanced democracies. Higher level political discussions in countries like the US, Britain, and Germany is largely devoid of adulation or iconoclastic discussion of past political heroes. The contribution and exploits of Shonkori remembered how heartbroleaders are regarded as remarkable achievements of normal men with some ken she was when her mother died, and though she was still a child, this exceptional abilities. Personal identiignited a deep sympathy within her, fication with heroic leaders is looked so she agreed to the marriage. That down upon as a sign of intellectual weakness. But until our country reaches evening, she wore her mother-inlaws wedding sari, and married the that stage of political enlightenment, stranger. Her father gave her a matwe should expect to see a lot more of the hero archetype at play in our nation- tress, blanket, bedsheets, a few saris, pots and pans, and gave her husband al and personal discourses. l Tk6,000 with which to start a small business. Her father-in-law gave her a Shafiqur Rahman is a freelance contributor.
n Shazia Omar
golden nosepin and told her she would no longer go to school. Now, three years later, Shonkori says she loves her two sons, the boy from another mother, and her own, who is now ten months old. She says labour was difficult, but her child is very sweet, and her husband does not beat her as she had feared he might.
Most forced marriages at tender ages are related to extreme poverty and reduced dowry costs
n Shaqur Rahman
he history and heritage season is largely over with the arrival of scorching Boishakh, but the debates regarding our historical leaders refuse to wilt in the summer heat. This preoccupation with Zia and Mujib at these eventful current times exasperates many of us. The more sophisticated among us deplore our chronic predisposition to raise leaders above broad historical trends and the personality cult-like behaviour of our major parties. We fail to add up why the BNP, faced now with perhaps the biggest crises since the overthrow of President Sattar, resorted to focus on Zias role in 1971 while countless other burning issues remain uncontested in the public arena. But if this seems madness to us, there is a method in the madness the method may be by design or accidental. Rumi Ahmed in his article History wars: Zia and BNPs future (DT, March 16), in my opinion, puts the finger on the essence of the problem and opportunity that compelled BNP to bring anew Zias historic role in 1971 to popular attention. His money quote from the article, A party cannot build an army of selfless street fighters without positive reinforcement of an idol father figure.Without memory of Zia and his pragmatic politics of synthesis, BNP is now a loose collection of people of varying negative sentiments like anti-secularism, anti-India sentiment, or other competing interests. This may be the major reason there is this terrible inertia among its activists, which is preventing the BNP from launching an
all-out decisive movement. And that is why BNP needs Zia again The art of projecting leaders as heroes is as old as human civilisation. For a country beset with rivalry of narratives of heroic leaderships, we have remarkably little discussion of psychological underpinnings behind this atavistic urge. Human society has a need to find and celebrate leaders as heroes programmed by thousands of years of cultural and social evolution.
to the story of Moses, from Achilles-Odysseus in Iliad-Odyssey to Rama in Ramayana, the same hero archetype keeps reoccurring with remarkable fidelity. We keep reverting to hero archetype because heroes play a fundamental role in making sense of the world for confused and distressed minds. Heroes give us the illusion that someone can be in control of events, bring order to the chaos, and dispense justice to the wronged. The myth of
This preoccupation with Zia and Mujib at these eventful current times exasperates many of us
The storyline of a hero struggling against men and nature, overcoming adversity, and then bringing salvation to his people is the oldest and simplest storyline. A leader as a hero is a basic human archetypal construct. Archetypes are mental models that developed early in human society to enable our forbearers to make sense of a bewildering world, and increasingly complex society. Carl Jung, the famous psychologist-philosopher, developed the theory of archetypes, and found that a few universal patterns are present in all stories and mythologies. Among them, the most consistently present is the hero archetype. From the Epic of Gilgamesh
heroes also creates shared meaning for their community and enhances group cohesion in the face of disintegrating forces. A shared sense of quest and meaning is the most effective glue that bonds groups together and heroes provide that in the most simple and effective form. Many of us who moan the cult of heroic leadership prevailing in this part of the world fail to see how this basic archetype is being employed even in the most developed societies. When we see how the Republican faithful in the USA try to elevate Ronald Reagan to the altar of saint, or how the Democratic political intellectuals spin the unfinished saga of JFK from Camelot,
I ask her how she feels. She says she is happy, though I am not sure what happiness means to her
She says with pride that he neither drinks nor gambles, but he doesnt earn either, and they are dependent on her mother-in-laws income (her mother-in-law owns a boat which she received from shirees asset-transfer program two years ago). I ask what happened to the Tk6,000 her father gave her husband as startup capital (not dowry, as he liked to point out). She tells me glumly about the stomach problem her husband suffered soon after their wedding that cost over Tk6,000 to diagnose and treat. Most forced marriages at tender ages are related to extreme poverty and reduced dowry costs on the basis of age. Young girls are married to the least desired men in the community, men who are also extremely poor and jobless, and so the poverty perpetuates. I return to the questions in my notebook to see what else I can learn. I ask if she has a say in any of the household decisions. She says she does not like to interfere. I ask if she gets to eat as much as her husband. She looks at me as if I am strange. Why would I? she says. I am small and he is big. She is small, a tiny 49, and frail. I ask if she has any dreams. She says she wants her sons to go to school. I ask if she has faced any severe deprivations. She laughs and says no, she has been unusually lucky in life. I smile politely, but I know from my notes that she was a victim of Aila five years ago, and her aunt and her father both lost their homes to the cyclone. For weeks she lived in a shelter and for months she ate less than two meals a day. Her own sister died of a snake bite. Finally I ask her how she feels. She says she is happy, though I am not sure what happiness means to her. When we part, she gives me a hug and says she shall call me apu for she has never had anyone take so much interest in her before and for this she is grateful. This is a true story but the names have been anonymised. l Shazia Omar is an Advocacy Advisor at shiree. She can be reached at shazia@ shiree.org.
Pohela is okay
I
n Nahian Asadullah
have trouble wrapping my mind around the idea that Pohela in the phrase Pohela Boishakh is not a Bangla word. If that was the case, I dont think I would be speaking Bangla now. Most of what we speak in Bangladesh today is actually foreign. Try avoiding the words chair, table, and veranda to name a few. (Some of them have their own Bangla equivalent, but who uses them?) Recently in an op-ed published in the DT, the author Syed Almas Kabir said he believed that the term Pohela Boishakh was not correct. His reasoning was that the word Pohela was an Urdu or Hindi word, and therefore should not be used with the word Boishakh. He offered the word Prothoma instead, which he claims is a pure Bangla word. But languages, by their very nature, evolve and work in a very flexible manner. In all languages, there is a group of words which are foreign. Is it reasonable for me to say I wont go abroad or use foreign languages to interact with the outside world because it is not a local thing to do? No. Because interacting with the outside world is critical for the development and survival of your nation. Likewise, it is not possible for a language to avoid some influence from other languages. However, no one in his right mind would say that foreign words that exist in Bangla have remained exactly the same since when they were borrowed. Would anyone claim that words such as geometry and trigonometry were not English words? These are two of the foreign words which have been anglicised from Sanskrit. I can speak of many other foreign words which have become inseparable from English. They are English words. No one complains that en masse is Spanish or that harikiri is Japanese. Puritanism is not good when it comes to language. What would it be like to try to speak English without all the foreign words it has in it? l Nahian Asadullah is a Staff Writer at the Dhaka Tribune.
Bangladesh is a country where we often see our creative ideas and innovations get battered due to inadequate protection
It is the IP rights that draw the producer to invest in a film, encourage the screenwriter and director to create, and motivate the artists and the rest of the crew to work and earn a living as well as a reputation. They encourage the use of advanced technology and
community groups, and individuals to hold different events and activities, including concerts, public performances, essay competitions, seminars and workshops, art exhibitions, and so on to observe and promote World IP Day each year.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk
A scene from Jibondhuli ily members get killed on the way. Jibon survives, and after roaming around the war-ravaged countryside, when he finally returns to his native village it is being ruled by the Razakars. The commander of the Razakars spares Jibons life on the condition that he have to play the drum for his force. The story moves forward depicting how he struggles to survive against the brutality of the Pakistanis and local collaborator. l
A group dance recital at the auditorium of Music and Dance Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy yesterday as part of Bangladesh Dance Artistes Association's weeklong programme to celebrate the International Dance Day. The event brings together dance artistes from all over the country to participate in performances, seminars, discussion, fair and procession. The programme will come to an end on the International Dance Day on April 29 SADIA MARIUM
SADIA MARIUM trast of the the citys modren objects. Despite the suffocation and everyday exhaust, the assembly of the photographs bring a refreshment to city dwellers. Both professional and amateur photographers took part in the exhibition which they claim not a conventional exhibition but a nemesis gaze of Dhaka city. The photographers chose the public space for the display to reach the general citizens of the city. From renowned photographer Andrew Biraj to singer Shayan Chowdhury Arnob, Imran Firdaus, Anindya Kabir Ovik, Abedin Safi, Ismail Ferdous, Kazi Tahsan Agaz Apurba, Jessica Islam Lia, Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, Stalin Joseph and many others participated in the show curated by Amirul Rajiv. Amirul Rajiv said: The exhibition aims to create bonds between the the city and its inhabitants. Its our first venture and the series of Dhaka Graam will continue with more exciting photographs. l
n Entertainment Desk
Actor Johnny Depp will no longer be required to testify at a murder trial after lawyers concurred that he was not in a relationship with the accused. Nancy Lekon was accused of killing a pedestrian with her car in 2009, and she has taken the insanity plea. Lekon said she is in a relationship with Depp, reports contactmusic.com. The prosecution and defence lawyers have now agreed that the actor has no connection with Lekon and neither does he have any involvement in the case. Hence, he is no longer required to give evidence. The Pirates of the Caribbean star was served with legal papers relating to the case while attending a film premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month and Lekon's lawyer was expecting that the actor would reinforce her insanity plea with his testimony. l
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
14 Balotelli clashes
14 Spain press
15 Own-goal
Brothers Unions Nigerian forward Kester Akon shoots the ball towards the Sheikh Russell at the BNS yesterday
MUMIT M
in second phase. They defeated Abahani Limited 1-0 and lost to Sheikh Jamal 3-2 with before edging past last season treble winners yesterday. The result put both the side on equal points, 16, at the table though a better goal difference kept Sheikh Russell ahead at fifth place. The Gopibag outfits initiated the first attack in the 28th minute when Rubel Miahs lob from the top of the box was tipped away by Russell keeper Biplob Bhattacharjee for a corner. Eight minutes later, Serbian midfielder Miroslav Savanovic unleashed a powerful free-kick from the left side of the box which was parried away by Brothers goalkeeper Sobuj Das Rogu. Mithun Chodhury found the rebounder but his shot was blocked by a defender. The Oranges stunned all to take the lead one minute into the extra time of first-half. Nigerian midfielder Simon Ezeodika stole the ball from Rezaul Karims possession inside the box and slid it onto the path of Kester Akon before the Nigerian striker slotted home past Russell custodian Biplob. Russells best chance for the equaliser came in the 67th minute when Shakil Ahmed headed on a cross of Sohel Rana from the right flank only to see the effort blocked for the expense of a corner. l
concerns early last year that in 2013 we were only playing four T20 matches and usually all our T20 matches are held at the end of series when the team is decimated with injuries. However there were still quite a few positives from the World T20. Jurgensen became full-time coach in February 2013 after doing the interim job quite successfully for one series, against West Indies, in 2012. He was given a twoyear contract, up to the 2015 World Cup alongside batting and fielding coach Corey Richards, trainer David Dwyer and physio Vibhav Singh. l
Maruful Haque, the former coach of Sheikh Russell follow the proceedings against Brothers Union with his assistants at the BNS yesterday MUMIT M
14
Nantes dent Marseilles Europe quest
Marseilles ambitions of securing European football next season took a knock on Friday after the south coast club were held to a 1 1 draw at Nantes. The stalemate left Jose Anigos side in sixth place, two points adrift of Europa League-bound Lyon, who travel to the Stade Velodrome next weekend. Midfielder Florian Thauvin, who arrived at Marseille on a 15 million euro move from Lille at the start of this season, put the sleeping French giants into the lead after half an hour with a shot from 20 metres. Senegal international Issa Cissokho levelled for Nantes with 25 minutes left for his fourth goal in the last three games. AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen players observe a minute of silence to commemorate former Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova before their German Bundesliga match in Munich yesterday. Vilanova died aged 45 following a battle with cancer that forced him to stand down at the end of last season, the club announced on Friday REUTERS
LIONEL MESSI (Barcelona forward) A difficult person to forget. We will always remember him. All my love to Titos family.
FIXTURES
Crystal Palace v Man City Liverpool v Chelsea Sunderland v Cardiff
are heady days at Anfield, and Rodgers has dismissed fears that his players might suddenly succumb to the pressure of expectation. Chelsea will definitely be without
injured quartet Petr Cech, John Terry, Eden Hazard and Samuel Etoo, while Ramires starts a four-game ban for lashing out at Sebastian Larsson in the loss to Sunderland. Cup-tied in the Champions League, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are both expected to feature, while Lampard and John Mikel Obi, who will miss the second leg of the Atletico tie through suspension, are also in line to play. For Liverpool, Jordan Henderson will not feature as he serves the second game of a three-match ban, while onloan Chelsea winger Victor Moses is ineligible to play against his parent club. l
VICTOR VALDES (Barcelona goalkeeper) Tito Vilanova is one of the best coaches I have had in my career. All my love and support to all his family.
CESC FABREGAS (Barcelona midfielder) Tito, thank you for all you have given football and Barca. All Barca fans will be eternally grateful to you. All my condolences are with Montse, Carlota and Adria and the rest of your family and friends. There will always be a place for you in our hearts. Rest in peace.
JOSEP MARIA BARTOMEU (Barcelona president) Tito Vilanova was a wonderful person, and will never be forgotten at FC Barcelona. Thank you for everything you taught us. Rest in peace.
JOSE MOURINHO (Chelsea manager) On behalf of everybody at Chelsea Football Club I send my deepest condolences at this most difficult time.
ERIC ABIDAL (Monaco and former Barcelona defender) For all that we lived through together I will always remember you friend. Rest in peace. Thank you for the fight. My love and support to your family.
VICENTE DEL BOSQUE (Spain manager) It is a disaster. A man aged just 45 has left us with half his life in front of him. I had the chance to talk to him, including during his illness and he was a warm person that was always willing to help.
RAFAEL NADAL (World number one tennis player) To lose is not a drama. What has happened to Tito Vilanova is. We are left with his example and I send my support to his family. FLORENTINO PEREZ (President of Real Madrid) I want to express my profound sadness for the death of Tito Vilanova and transmit, in the name of Real Madrid, our condolences, support and love to his family, to FC Barcelona and especially to his wife and children. Today is a day of sadness for all fans and recognition for his personal and professional life.
PEPE REINA (Spain and Napoli goalkeeper) Hopefully one day there will be a cure for the scourge that is cancer. RIP Tito. My profound condolences to his family and friends.
Played Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against La Liga 38 32 4 2 115 40 Champions League 12 5 3 4 18 17 Copa del Rey 8 5 2 1 21 9 Spanish Supercup 2 1 0 1 4 4
MICHEL PLATINI (President of Uefa) I was deeply saddened to hear the news of Tito Vilanovas passing. He was a great person and a fantastic coach who will always be remembered for his work at FC Barcelona. I send my condolences to Titos family and to the club.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
Dutch GM to guide national chess team
The famous Dutch Grandmaster Sergei Tiviakov is likely to take charge of the Bangladesh national chess team for one month before the 41st Chess Olympiad which will begin in Tromsa, Norway in the first week of August. Tiviakov is currently ranked 101th worldwide among the active players with a rating of 2651. The Soviet Unionborn Dutch chess player earned GM title in 1991 and clinched the Dutch Chess Championship in 2006 and 2007 before going on to win the European Individual Chess Championship In 2008. Bangladesh Chess Federation (BCF) general secretary Gazi Saiful Tareq revealed that they had already contacted with Tiviakov and the Dutchs response was positive. It was learnt, the federation wanted Tiviakov for more than a month, but the Dutch did not want a longer stint and also demanded 5000Euro including accommodation facilities and air fair. Earlier, the federation asked the players for suggestion for a foreign coach and they suggested Tiviakovs name. We recommended his name when federation asked us. It will be great beneficial for us if Tiviakov agrees to work with us said countrys youngest GM Enamul Hossain Rajib. l
Manchester Uniteds Wayne Rooney celebrates after scoring against Norwich during their English Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday
REUTERS
RESULTS
2 2 2 0
Hull
Jelavic 75, Long 87
Everton Tottenham
Rose 33
0 1 4 1 1 0 4 0
Aston Villa
Agbonlahor 22
West Brom
Berahino 11
Man United
Rooney 41-pen, 48, Mata 63, 73
World champion Marc Marquez dominated practice for the Argentina MotoGP at the brand new Termas de Rio Hondo track on Friday. The Spanish Honda rider is seeking to make it three wins out of three this season as the world championship returns to Argentina for the first time since 1999. And the 21-year-old proved a quick learner as he made light of the alien surroundings to top the times by over one second from his teammate Dani Pedrosa. It was a fun day, it is always interesting to learn all the different corners and their secrets at a new track and the practice sessions go by more quickly, said Marquez after clocking 1min 39.313sec. AFP
Victory saw Southampton remain eighth in the table. Elsewhere, Fulham missed the chance to climb out of the relegation
BRIEF SCORES
Royal Challengers Bangalore 70 all out in 15 overs (Virat Kohli 21, Mitchell Starc 18; Pravin Tambe 4 20, Kane Richardson 2 18) Rajasthan Royals 71 for four in 13 overs (Shane Watson 24, Ajinkya Rahane 23; Mitchell Starc 2 29, Yuzvendra Chahal 1 17)
RESULTS
Mainz Hoffenheim Bayern Munich
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA Play-off 2013 14 5:00AM Toronto vs. Brooklyn Indian Premier League 4:30PM Delhi vs. Mumbai 8:30PM Hyderabad vs. Chennai Ten Golf 9:00AM Cimb Niaga Indonesian Masters Day 4 Star Sports 1 8:00 PM Barcelona Open Tennis Star Sports 4 English Premier League 4:50PM Sunderland vs. Cardiff City 8:50PM Liverpool vs. Chelsea 9:00PM Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City Italian Serie A 12:40AM Atalanta vs. Genoa Star Sports 2 La Liga 2013/14 8:55 PM Valencia CF vs. Atletico de Madrid 10:55 PM Athletic Club de Bilbao vs. Sevilla FC Star Sports HD 1 8:00PM MotoGP: Argentina Race Day
2 0
0 0 5 2 2 0 2 2
Hertha Berlin
Brooks 61, Allagui 77
Braunschweig Freiburg
Wolfsburg
Perisic 3, 70
highest-scoring Japanese player in a single Bundesliga season when he scored his 14th goal to break Shinji Kagawas previous record in Mainzs 2-0 win at home to Nuremberg. l
BAF Shaheen College Taekwondo trainees display their skills in the concluding ceremony at the college auditorium yesterday
COURTESY
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
THE LONG WAIT IS OVER...
After the release of Siddique, top police officials said they would continue with the investigation in a bid to unravel the mystery surrounding his abduction
Pauline, who is a contractor by profession, returned on April 20 after he had been picked up from in front of BAF Shaheen School in the capital on February 9. To avoid you (journalists), I am living elsewhere. I am sick and undergoing treatment in a hospital. I am not interested to talk about the incident, he told this correspondent over phone. He also declined to comment about who had picked him up and how he got release. During visit to his house in Mirpur, his family members said he (Pauline) was not at home. But none of his family members agreed to disclose his whereabouts. Rather they were found busy offering prayers at different mosques and mazars alongside serving food among orphans for his safe return. His father-in-law Mashiur Rahman said they do not want to know about the cause of abduction of Pauline. We are much happy with the return of my son-in-law. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, at least three such victims declined to make it clear or narrate actually what had happened to them, who had picked them up and why they were set free. All of them had avoided all the questions, saying that they could not guess anything as they had been abducted blindfolded. In another incident, former employee of a stationery shop Mahiuddin Ahad, 26, claimed to have been dropped at Section 10 in Mirpur by a microbus on March 6 after he had been picked up by some people in the guise of RAB personnel from his house in Mirpur. While talking to this correspondent, he avoided talking on his story, claim-
After more than a week of unbearable high temperature, a sudden spell of rain in the afternoon brings much relief to dwellers of different parts of the capital. The picture was taken from Baitul Mukarram area yesterday MUMIT M
Three yaba traders killed in gunfight with coastguard n Our Correspondent, Coxs Bazar
Three yaba traders have died allegedly in a gun battle with members of the Coastguard at Coxs Bazars Teknaf Upazila. They were Amin Majhi of Shahpari Island of Teknaf, Mohammad Kalu of Moheshkhali Upazila and Jahir Ahmed of Sadar Upazila. The incident occurred at Seradia Island on Friday morning. We ran a raid on a tip-off there when yaba traders fired at us. We then fired back in self-defense and they fled back to Myanmar, said St Martin Coastguard Station Commander Lt Shahid Al Hasan. Three of us, including operator of the trawler we were in, were injured during the gunfight, said Shahid. He, however, could not say whether any Yaba trader was injured in the gun battle. Asked, Coxs Bazar police stations Officer-in-Charge Anwar said, We cannot say anything about it for sure right now because the coastguard have not yet informed us about the gunfight in details. However, we have so far learnt that all the three whose bodies are now at the hospital were yaba traders, he said, adding, We are investigating it with importance. l
NEWS ANALYSIS
march the first major programme of the party since the January election could not be termed successful by any stretch of the imagination. Khaleda Zia has time and time again slammed the senior party leaders for not taking to the streets during the major movements. That trend remained unchanged with the long march as well. Only a few senior leaders took part in the long march. Even most of the senior leaders of the partner parties of the 18-party combine did not take part in the long march. The grassroots frustration was visible in the way the long march contingent was greeted. Most district units of the party appeared to be indifferent
Jubo Dal leaders Fire at Mongla Port tanker kills two body recovered n Tribune Report Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur
n
The body of a Jubo Dal leader was recovered in Lakshmipur yesterday after two days of his abduction. Deceased Solayman was the joint secretary of district unit Jubo Dal and hailed from Syedpur village in the sadar upazila. The body was recovered near a Swiss Gate area of Lakshmipurs Syedpur around 7am. l Two employees of an oil tanker were killed as a fire broke out when it was anchored at Mongla Port in Khulna early yesterday. Greaser Mosleh Uddin Miah, 40, and sailor Badal Miah, 38, were critically injured in the incident that took place in MV Jakah, anchored in Pashur Channel. They were first admitted to Khulna Medical College Hospital and later shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where they died in the morning. Altaf Hossain, member (operations) of Mongla Port told reporters that they had received news of the fire in the early hours. Fire fighting vessel of the port authorities MV Agni Prohari and another of Bangladesh Navy doused the fire after five hours. The fire could not be devastating as
the tanker was empty, he said. Vessel Contractor of the tanker Hekmot Carriers Manager Joynal Abedin told reporters that the empty tanker had come to Summit Refinery of Mongla from Daulatpur of Khulna on Friday afternoon to take oil which was supposed to begin soon. The fire was originated from an electric short-circuit of battery in the engine room. The engine room was gutted entirely, officials said. l
Two brick kilns emit thick black smoke at Aminbazar yesterday. The governments deadline to convert the conventional brick-making plants into environment-friendly and energy efficient units expires in June this year SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
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
'The vendors have created an artificial crisis of ACs to jack up prices as the temperature is rising gradually'
Again he went to the market last week to buy a one-tonne AC, but found the price shoot up abnormally. He had to buy two air coolers, instead. The vendors have created an artificial crisis of ACs to jack up prices as the temperature is rising gradually, Mehbub said. The AC, which I wanted to buy during my first visit at Tk48,000, is now selling at Tk63,000 per unit. We are helpless as my children have to be safe from diseases, he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. He was compelled to buy two air-coolers each worth Tk13,000 double the price he first checked at the same outlet. Ive been cheated, he said. The city has been witnessing high temperature from the last one month due to lack of rainfall which has forced many citizens to buy air cooling appliances to meet their needs. The vendors are taking advantage of the helpless people, alleged many of the intending buyers, who were roving around the stadium market yesterday. l
As heat wave continues to sweep over the country, the sales of air conditioners and electric fans have marked a rise to an extent that vendors are running out of stocks. To no bodys surprise, the traders are charging higher, adding woes to the consumers. The photos show an electronic products store in the capitals Bangabandhu Stadium Market while a customer was taking the purchased goods to home yesterday RAJIB DHAR
BB Governor Dr Atiur Rahman out by the central banks deputy governor, SK Sur Chowdhury. Tax exemption under CSR activities should be enhanced while the rate needs to be reviewed and also tax rebate for CSR should be simplified and made easier so that banks can avail of it. He added: A closer linkage between NBR and Bangladesh Bank is a must for better functioning of CSR initiatives. Other speakers including Swapan Kumar Bala, CEO of Dhaka Stock Exchange, shared the possible positive impact a tax exemption on the banks profitability may bring for the common people. Editor of the Financial Express Moazzem Hossain moderated the programme. l
B2
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 26.60 19.40 19.08 18.01 17.33 16.05 15.71 13.82 13.67 13.57
Northern Jute -Z Prime Bank-A Bay Leasing.-A City Bank - A Agni Systems -A UCBL - A Southeast Bank-A Mercantile Bank -A GlaxoSK (BD) -A Maksons Spinning-A CSE GAINERS Company Argon Denims Limited-A Prime Bank-A Agni Systems -A City Bank - A UCBL - A Maksons Spinning-A Southeast Bank-A Dhaka Bank -A National Bank - B Mercantile Bank -A
Average (% change) 26.35 17.16 18.92 16.55 16.64 14.90 16.08 14.25 13.46 17.61 Average (% change) 19.69 18.70 17.98 16.07 15.22 18.29 15.55 14.65 10.88 11.80
Closing average 122.14 23.76 34.06 18.80 23.69 28.00 21.95 17.24 1,797.13 16.23
Weekly closing 122.30 24.00 33.70 19.00 23.70 28.20 22.10 17.30 1,798.10 15.90
Weekly high 123.40 24.70 35.00 19.30 24.50 29.00 23.00 17.40 1,798.10 17.50
Weekly low 98.00 18.10 26.50 14.80 18.40 22.00 17.20 13.80 1,560.10 12.60
Turnover in million 0.234 170.333 27.710 205.145 95.565 647.734 636.400 145.740 131.232 166.513
Latest EPS -10.24 0.56 1.56 1.09 1.10 3.66 3.69 2.68 45.35 0.64
Latest PE -ve 42.4 21.8 17.2 21.5 7.7 5.9 6.4 39.6 25.4
Closing (% change) 20.47 18.48 17.33 16.05 15.70 15.11 14.58 13.90 13.33 13.25
Closing average 61.28 24.31 23.89 18.78 27.93 16.23 21.92 21.44 13.35 16.96
Weekly closing 61.80 25.00 23.70 18.80 28.00 16.00 22.00 21.30 13.60 17.10
Weekly high 63.00 25.00 24.50 19.20 28.20 16.50 22.10 21.70 13.70 17.30
Weekly low 47.00 20.00 18.50 15.00 21.80 13.00 17.30 18.60 11.00 13.60
Turnover in million 0.970 0.952 9.731 21.079 78.678 10.412 50.130 2.739 35.366 11.257
Latest EPS 2.74 0.56 1.10 1.09 3.66 0.64 3.69 3.49 -3.63 2.68
Latest PE 22.4 43.4 21.7 17.2 7.6 25.4 5.9 6.1 -ve 6.3
(+) 2.25% (+) 1.00% (+) 2.18% (+) 0.35% (+) 2.43%
Weekly high 58.40 157.90 427.50 13.50 608.00 199.00 635.00 185.00 73.50 33.10
Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
Weekly low 28.10 127.50 358.00 9.40 531.00 171.90 572.25 166.60 62.70 30.20 Turnover in million 345.513 67.829 57.859 38.099 21.479 100.854 358.482 69.354 1220.221 0.442 Latest EPS 3.63 1.40 3.92 0.12 6.02 4.07 23.48 2.99 2.19 -0.04
Average (% change) -41.32 -15.67 -13.89 -12.52 -11.38 -10.42 -7.21 -8.90 -11.98 -7.85 Average (% change) -41.18 -18.31 -17.90 -12.46 -10.01 -10.00 -9.51 -12.72 -7.36 -8.37
Closing average 29.84 134.29 372.32 9.85 546.61 175.78 582.85 169.94 63.06 31.33
Weekly closing 29.40 129.10 364.20 9.70 534.90 173.10 576.75 168.30 62.90 31.30
Latest PE 8.2 95.9 95.0 82.1 90.8 43.2 24.8 56.8 28.8 -ve
Closing average 29.94 58.00 133.54 9.84 176.58 6.93 29.50 63.28 580.00 104.00
Weekly closing 29.60 58.00 129.50 9.80 172.60 6.90 29.50 62.80 576.50 104.00
Weekly high 58.00 58.00 153.50 13.30 194.00 7.00 29.50 73.80 636.00 105.00
Weekly low 28.30 58.00 128.10 10.00 172.40 6.90 29.50 62.50 573.00 103.10
Turnover in million 35.737 0.058 4.765 17.332 4.208 0.024 0.030 90.297 49.753 0.120
Latest EPS 3.63 2.52 1.40 0.12 4.07 1.52 -0.04 2.19 23.48 4.95
Latest PE 8.2 23.0 95.4 82.0 43.4 4.6 -ve 28.9 24.7 21.0
ANALYST
Probably investors are sensing good first quarter results for banks and MNCs
DSE Million Taka 3383.03 1042.14 435.04 1355.44 1668.61 3062.46 8.67 1569.00 2052.49 4.44 178.29 309.46 65.53 2201.61 163.83 259.47 367.69 1934.44 151.94 519.36 1.33
% change 16.32 5.03 2.10 6.54 8.05 14.77 0.04 7.57 9.90 0.02 0.86 1.49 0.32 10.62 0.79 1.25 1.77 9.33 0.73 2.50 0.01
Million Taka 340.87 74.60 22.05 89.61 72.19 176.86 0.00 160.81 89.60 47.53 8.59 61.79 5.49 156.31 17.42 10.12 22.33 115.09 28.17 68.26 0.04
CSE
% change 21.74 4.76 1.41 5.72 4.60 11.28 0.00 10.26 5.72 3.03 0.55 3.94 0.35 9.97 1.11 0.65 1.42 7.34 1.80 4.35 0.00
Million Taka 3723.90 1116.74 457.08 1445.05 1740.80 3239.32 8.67 1729.81 2142.10 51.97 186.88 371.25 71.03 2357.92 181.25 269.59 390.02 2049.53 180.12 587.62 1.37
Total
% change 16.70 5.01 2.05 6.48 7.81 14.52 0.04 7.76 9.60 0.23 0.84 1.66 0.32 10.57 0.81 1.21 1.75 9.19 0.81 2.63 0.01
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Meghna Petroleum -A Olympic Ind. -A LafargeS Cement-Z HeidelbergCement -A Padma Oil Co. -A Square Pharma -A UCBL - A Southeast Bank-A AB Bank - A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A UCBL - A HeidelbergCement -A Meghna Petroleum -A Matin Spinning-N Padma Oil Co. -A BD Submarine Cable-A Southeast Bank-A BSC A
Volume shares 7,128,224 4,625,319 5,765,698 18,125,000 1,850,300 2,465,642 2,742,774 24,267,961 30,037,860 16,970,360
Value in million 1876.95 1437.59 1391.26 1220.22 1078.48 862.34 770.03 647.73 636.40 511.80
% of total turnover 7.59 5.81 5.63 4.94 4.36 3.49 3.11 2.62 2.57 2.07
Weekly closing 270.30 308.50 244.70 62.90 612.70 344.90 278.70 28.20 22.10 29.70
Price change 6.17 -0.74 0.91 -7.91 3.64 -3.34 -1.76 16.05 15.71 3.48
Weekly opening 254.60 310.80 242.50 68.30 591.20 356.80 283.70 24.30 19.10 28.70
Weekly high 276.20 317.40 246.70 73.50 624.80 360.00 295.00 29.00 23.00 32.30
Weekly low 235.00 282.00 215.00 62.70 550.00 325.00 260.10 22.00 17.20 26.00
Weekly average 270.79 309.42 244.03 63.06 610.65 345.56 279.39 28.00 21.95 30.15
Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net
Volume shares 1,332,000 341,600 2,952,171 123,650 178,499 1,296,400 147,013 251,135 2,370,963 82,810
Value in million 90.30 89.29 78.68 71.27 55.45 52.39 51.47 51.45 50.13 49.75
% of total turnover 5.29 5.23 4.61 4.18 3.25 3.07 3.02 3.02 2.94 2.92
Weekly closing 62.80 269.90 28.00 612.60 309.10 42.00 344.80 200.50 22.00 576.50
Price change -8.99 6.13 15.70 3.60 -0.58 7.97 -3.36 -4.20 14.58 -8.56
Weekly opening 69.00 254.30 24.20 591.30 310.90 38.90 356.80 209.30 19.20 630.50
Weekly high 73.80 275.40 28.20 622.00 317.90 42.50 360.00 210.00 22.10 636.00
Weekly low 62.50 248.00 21.80 553.00 290.00 38.30 344.00 200.00 17.30 573.00
Weekly average 63.28 270.63 27.93 612.46 309.11 42.01 345.71 202.36 21.92 580.00
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
MIGA chief arrives today
n Tribune Report
Keiko Honda, Executive Vice President of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) the political risk insurance and credit enhancement arm of the World Bank Group is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka today on a four-day visit to Bangladesh. During her visit, Honda will meet with government representatives, stateowned enterprises, and banks to identify areas where MIGA can help the country mobilise capital for important power and infrastructure projects to meet its development goals, said a World Bank press release yesterday. Since MIGAs inception, the Agency has insured projects in Bangladesh in several sectors, including power, manufacturing, telecommunications, and banking. Most recently, the Agency issued guarantee in support of the Ashuganj South power plant, which is adding clean generation capacity to the nations grid through an indigenous fuel source. MIGAs current gross exposure in Bangladesh is $330mn. While Bangladeshs recent economic growth is certainly a positive trend, it brings higher demand for power and better infrastructure, said Honda. l
'The freer flow of funds across Chinas borders would boost efficiency and cut costs'
The experiment, which began in 2012 in Beijing and Shanghai, came in response to growing demand from international companies operating in China for more freedom to use their growing amounts of yuan to boost the efficiency of their management of capital. However, Chinese regulators have also been keen to keep any speculative pressures on the currency at bay. The State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), which manages the countrys $3.3tn foreign exchange reserves, is expanding the trial programme to any Chinese or foreign com-
A vendor holds a ten yuan note as a customer pays for her vegetables at a market in Shanghai
REUTERS
In Manhattan, it wasnt long ago that Russian oligarchs dominated the gilded world of real estate, gobbling up statusheavy, marquee properties, such as an $88m, Robert A.M. Stern-designed penthouse and a $75m mansion with a ballroom and a rooftop aerie. Now, many brokers say, Russian buyers have become scarce largely because of fears that the struggle over
We are selling at least 15 air conditioners each day. If we could stock more cooling products, we would have been able to sell 500 units of air coolers and fans in a week, he said. While visiting the markets and some retail showrooms at the capital, it was found that buyers were looking for air conditioners and air coolers, but most of them were looking for the local made home appliances as these are less expensive. However, the cooling appliances were out of the market due to the sud-
den mad rush of the customers. As the temperature increased suddenly in the last week, people are now mostly looking for purchasing air coolers and air conditioners. But, we dont have any more stock left to sell, said Md Sharifullah, assistant manager at Walton Plaza at Bashundhara City Shopping Mall. Anwarul Islam, branch manager at Gulshan branch of Butterfly said the sales of air conditioners had been increased unbelievably all on a sudden. He, however, declined to disclose about the sales volume of his branch. l
By far and away, the Chinese are the fastest growing demographic, said Dean Jones, a US-based broker with Sothebys International. They are the top consumer for real estate, and New York is front and center. Added Pamela Liebman, CEO of the Corcoran Group, one of the best known New York real estate firms: In sheer numbers, the Chinese outspend the Rus-
Ukraine will worsen leading to increasingly tough US sanctions on politicallyconnected and wealthy Russians. Theyre gone, theyre gone, said Sothebys International broker Nikki Field, Theyve been gone since the Crimean outbreak. The Chinese grew to 28.5% of Fields international business in the first quarter of 2014, up from 19 percent last
year. Weve only scratched the surface with Chinese demand, Field said. Chinese buyers typically used to pick up properties in the $1 to $5m range in New York, often buying two and three at a time for investment purposes, the brokers said. But lately they have been moving up market, brokers say. The current invogue building among the Chinese is Central Parks One57, a new skyscraper designed by Pritzker Prize-winning French architect Christian de Portzamparc, where they can spend $18.85m for a three-bedroom or $55m for an apartment taking up the entire 81st floor. The building comes with all of the amenities of a five-star hotel. The Chinese are also venturing out to Long Island, where they are buying Gatsby-esque mansions set atop rolling greens. Broker Shawn Elliott ferries around groups of Chinese buyers in Rolls Royce and Mercedes-Benz luxury sprinters every week, often catering to entire families at a time. Theyre looking for trophy properties, said Elliott. Theyre looking for their children to be comfortable, and to be near Columbia or New York University. Some Chinese arent even bothering to come to the United States at all, going so far as to pick up multi-milliondollar properties sight unseen. One Chinese buyer recently purchased two properties, worth $13m, at the Baccarat Hotels & Residences in New York. The entire deal was done via the Chinese social networking site WeChat, according to the broker who did the deal, Douglas Ellimans Emma Hao. I think the Chinese trend is onwards and upwards, said Liam Bailey, a partner with Knight Frank. There will be more Chinese buyers, and they will take more share of the market. l
First Security Islami Bank Limited held its 15th annual general meeting on Friday at a local hotel in Chittagong. The meeting was presided over by the banks chair Mohammed Saiful Alam Reckitt Benckiser Bangladesh Ltd on Thursday held the prize giving ceremony of Veet Ready, Set, Smooth contest at its head office. The prizes were handed over by the companys high officials including its marketing director, Mahbub Baset MJL Bangladesh Limited has recently sponsored the 6th Mobil Cup Golf Tournament at Shaheen Golf and Country Club in Chittagong. Kh Md Sanaul Haque, the companys CEO was present at the tournaments grand event along with the chief guest, Air Commodore Md Humayun Kabir
Midland Bank Ltd yesterday held its maiden annual general meeting at a hotel in the capital. The banks chair, M Moniruzzaman Khandaker presided over the meeting
NCC Bank is going to build a gate named Freedom and Democracy at the Nilkhet entrance of the University of Dhaka with Tk1 crore from the banks corporate social responsibility programme. The banks acting managing director Golam Hafiz Ahmed and Raquibuddin Ahmed, president of DUAA signed an agreement on this regard
Partex Fashions has recently launched its 2nd outlet at Uttara. MA Hashem, the groups chair was chief guest at the inauguration ceremony
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
No wrongdoing
The base of several wind turbine blades are seen outside TPI Composites in Newton ports authors write, are 10 to 25 percent lower than those of the worlds ten leading goods-exporting nations other than China and on par with Eastern Europe. Another standout in the rankings is Mexico, which BCG categorizes as a rising star with lower average manufacturing costs than China. But the country failed to make BCGs list of Top 10 manufacturers because of other factors, including rampant crime and corruption. BCG arrived at the rankings using a proprietary index that focuses on four major factors: wages, productivity growth, energy costs and exchange rates. In addition to China, four other countries with reputations as low-cost
REUTERS
production centers - Brazil, the Czech Republic, Poland and Russia - are classified as being under pressure in terms of their manufacturing costs. Here is BCGs ranking of the worlds Top 10 countries in terms of manufacturing competitiveness: China, United States, South Korea, United Kingdom, Japan, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Belgium and France. l
Several workers in Dongguan reached by telephone said they had returned to work after Yue Yuen offered to backfill social insurance and housing payments. But workers would be watching carefully for concrete action, said one female, surnamed Liu. The company had created some pressure for workers to return to their factories by removing electronic card readers used to clock in and out, workers said. Theyre making us sign a timesheet once an hour to make sure were in the factory, said one. Some were signing in, but not working. Yue Yuen executive director George Liu denied the company had violated any laws or regulations with the insurance payments it had been making. There is no wrongdoing. We have always been in compliance with the relevant government laws and regulations, he told Reuters. The strike has made officials nervous, however, and labour activist Zhang Zhiru and a colleague, Lin Dong, were detained this week by state security agents. Zhang was freed after two days, but Lin was still in detention, Zhang told Reuters. Zhang, who has been assisting workers for a decade, had been working with other activists and lawyers to help Yue Yuen workers organize and press their demands. l
Dollar-euro flat, yen stronger ahead of BOJ, Fed meetings n AFP, New York
The dollar and euro stayed virtually unchanged Friday as the boiling Ukraine crisis kept traders cautious going into the weekend. But the Japanese yen inched higher, with eyes looking to policy meetings next week in both the Bank of Japan and the US Federal Reserve. Firm inflation figures - a 1.3% pace in March - released in Tokyo Friday drove expectations that the BOJ will keep policy unchanged, instead of expanding stimulus efforts as some have hoped for. The inflation figures do not inspire much hope that the Bank of Japan will engage in more monetary easing any time soon, said Norihiro Fujito, senior investment strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities There were virtually no expectations of any shift by the US Federal Reserve at their policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Another $10bn cut in the monthly bond purchase program is expected, with the Fed accepting that the economic stall during the winter was largely related to the repeated storms. l
Blame game
During a wave of euro zone credit downgrades during the financial crisis, policymakers and economists blamed ratings agencies for exacerbating investor flight from the region blame the agencies say is misplaced. Prosecutors in southern Italy have requested that two ratings agencies stand trial for allegedly prompting a sell-off of Italian assets with downgrades between 2010 and 2012. The agencies say the accusations are baseless. Today, the mood seems to be shifting in Europe. The euro zones recession ended in the second quarter of last year. Market pressures on weaker countries has eased, in part because of domestic reform efforts but also due to an ECB
DILBERT
A demonstrator holds a sign against US computer and phone manufacturer Apple, in front of Apple's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York on Friday
AFP