Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Print Edition: February 25, 2014
Print Edition: February 25, 2014
www.dhakatribune.com
SECOND EDITION
JMB leaders used Real cause of BDR mutiny still a mystery n cellphones in jail
Julkar Ali Manik
P2
A section of policemen are suspected to be involved in the operation and planning while questions have also been raised on the poor security measures as the hardened JMB cadres were being taken to Mymensingh from Gazipur. Police, Rab and Jail sources said the cadres, who took part in operation, were the JMB operatives and two of the three microbuses used in the operation
Family members of the victims of the BDR mutiny hold a candlelight vigil in front of the National Press Club on Monday
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
Five years have passed, several probes have been completed and verdict has been delivered in a carnage case, but the mystery behind the BDR mutiny and the brutal killings inside Pilkhana is yet to be unearthed. The judge of a trial court that delivered verdict in the carnage case, said in his judgment that the killing of so many army officials was not a rational consequence of the grievances that had piled up among the BDR soldiers. During the bloody mutiny in the forces Pilkhana headquarters on February 25-26, 2009, BDR (now BGB) rebels killed 57 army officers and 17 civilians. The mutineers tried to hide the dead bodies by burying them in mass graves inside Pilkhana and throwing some others in the sewerage lines. They also brutally tortured army officers and their families and ransacked their houses and properties. Those murdered included the forces the then director general and this wife. According to a home ministry probe committee formed after the mutiny, further investigation was required
PAGE 2 COLUMN 4
February 25-26, 2009 Casualties: Army 57 + Jawans 10 + Civilians 7 = Total 74 Carnage Case filed 28 February, 2009 Charge sheet submitted 12 July, 2010 Indictment 10 August, 2011 Verdict 5 November, 2013 Accused 846 Death 152 Life 161 Jail term 256 Acquitted 277 Witness 1,350 Mutiny Cases filed 57 Special courts 11 in Dhaka 6 out of Dhaka 5 Jail term 5,926 Acquitted 115
BDR CARNAGE
P3
3 March, 2014
ruary 24 from Zakir Hossain, owner of Prime Coaching Centre. The BDR soldiers published their leaflets from that tuition home. But despite the knowledge, Torab did not inform the law enforcers or the authorities concerned. Instead, the next day that is the first day of the
PAGE 2 COLUMN 4
INSIDE
Business
B1 Representation from the Ministry of Commerce to the third BIMSTEC Summit early next month has been ignored even Minister Tofail Ahmed is not aware about the disappointment.
News
5 The Moghbazar-Mouchak road in the capital has virturally turned impassable due to the ongoing construction of the flyover on the road. Commuters of different vehicles have to wait for hours on the road. Vehicles are often stuck in potholes in the dilapidated road.
Op-Ed
11 February 25 could be like any other day, but now it is marked as a red-letter day because on this day we lost 57 of our men who had to give their lives in the most barbarous manner possible.
Entertainment
12 A biography on ace filmmaker Tareque Masud has been uncovered at the Amor Ekushey Book Fair-2014 recently. The book is published by Bangladesh Film Archive. The writer Rubayet Ahmed assumes that the book will stand as a reference to all who want to know and study the life and works of the late filmmaker.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
136 foreign students selected for MBBS and BDS n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
The health ministry has declared the names of 136 selected foreign students for admission into the first year-MBBS and BDS courses for 2013-2014 in government medical and dental colleges. Of the total selected students, 67 for the MBBS and six for the BDS course have been selected from Saarc countries India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan. On the other hand, 48 others have been selected for the MBBS and 15 for the BDS course from non-Saarc countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Palestine and Malaysia. This year, there were 341 foreign applicants (291 from Saarc and 51 from non-Saarc countries) for the MBBS course and 22 applicants (seven from Saarc and 15 from non-Saarc countries) for the BDS course. Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director of medical education and manpower development at the Directorate General of Health Services, said all applicants had submitted applications through the Bangladeshi Embassy at their countries. The ministry has issued a circular for the selected students to get admitted by March 11.l
Constable Sohel Rana receives treatment after being injured in the JMB prison van ambush in Mymensingh on Sunday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Rana Plaza victims urge to publish complete list of dead and missing
n Adil Sakhawat
Relatives of those who died or were injured in the Rana Plaza collapse gathered in front of the tragic site yesterday, demanding their compensations and urged the government to publish the complete list of dead and missing workers as soon as possible. They also warned that they would go for tough movement if their demands were not met. Over 200 workers and relatives of the victims demonstrated at the site under the banner of Bangladesh Garments Workers Solidarity. Many workers complained that though 10 months had passed, they did not get any compensation yet. Lovely, a victim, said: Every month we come here but the government is yet to give us any compensation. When asked, many survivors said they lost everything and they would demonstrate till they get their actual compensation. We did not want to work on that day. We only worked as the owners forced us. Some of us lost their limbs; some have lost capability to work again. So, the government should assume our responsibility, Arzina, a survivor, told the Dhaka Tribune. Taslima Akhter, coordinator of Bangladesh Garments Workers Solidarity, said: The government should take immediate action to publish a list of dead and missing workers and find out their actual relatives and provide them compensation. Many relatives claimed that they were the actual relatives of some missing or dead workers, but DNA authorities told them that the DNA sample provided by them did not match with unidentified bodies. Taslima also said: A committee has already been formed according to high court order to provide compensation to survivors and victims of Rana Plaza, but the government and the BGMEA are yet to take initiatives to provide compensation. As far as we know, the government has got $40 million as compensation from many foreign retailers, but yet the victims are compelled to demonstrate for their legal compensation. l
that the JMB militants had their own mobile phones inside their prison cells and prison van for keeping communication with the other JMB men. The acting SP, however, said: So far we have come to know that those three JMB cadres had been supplied with a mini-size cellphone of a company for keeping regular contact with their fellows. Asked, the acting SP said the mobile phone had been supplied to them when they were taken to a Dhaka court in connection with their court appearance for one of the cases, but he failed to specify when the cellphones were supplied. During primary interrogation Zakaria Himel disclosed their plan to carry out the operation and the ways of how they maintained communication, said Hasibul Alam. He said: Zakariya hails from Chapainawabganj and he is an active JMB operative, who played key role in the operation. Zakariya helped purchase the two of three microbuses used in the op-
eration at Tk21 lakh from Car Hut in front of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, he said, adding that one of the microbuses was purchased only four days before the operation and another around two weeks ago. Replying to a query, SP Hasibul Alam said those who launched the operation to whisk off the three JMB leaders and carried out attack in Mirjapur where Rakib Hasan Rasel was killed were also JMB cadres. Col Ziaul Ahsan, additional director general of Rab, agreed with the Tangail SP, saying, We suspect that the attackers were JMB cadres. However, officials of the High Security Jail and Kashimpur 1 prison denied the claim of SP Hasibul Alam and they traded blame between each other. They said police were trying to cover up their failure by shifting blame on the jail authorities. There is no scope of keeping any mobile phone inside the jail. We keep a close watch so that nobody can use mobile phone, said Abdur Razzak, se-
nior superintendent of the High Security Jail. Jamil Ahmed Chowdhury, senior superintendent of Kashimpur 1 Jail, added: It was a foul mouthed tirade that the JMB leaders had their own phone inside the jail. Meanwhile, the committees formed to probe the role of police in connection with the fleeing of three JMB cadres started their activities yesterday. Additional Deputy Inspector General of Police (Dhaka Range) Faruq Hossain, chief of one of the probe committees, told the Dhaka Tribune they already started investigation into the incident. Asked why only three policemen were assigned for escorting such hardened JMB cadres, the police officer said: We are carrying out investigation, paying highest attention to the question. We are verifying whether police in Gazipur had negligence or had their involvement in the fleeing of those prisoners. l
mutiny he organised and brought out processions at gates no 1 and 5 of the Pilkhana headquarters. The processions chanted slogans such as BDR, Janata bhai bhai, (the BDR soldiers and the people are brothers), said the court that handed down death sentences to 151 former members of the paramilitary border security force for killing 57 army officers and 17 civilians during the two-day mutiny. One of his [Torabs] associates said the BDR men held clandestine meetings at his residence. The BDR men also contacted Pintu before the mutiny. He instigated the rebel soldiers to bring out processions inside the BDR headquarters, the court said in its judgment. The prosecution proved that both of them were involved with the conspiracy. But considering their political profile and old age, they had been given life term sentences instead death, the court said. The court in its judgment on November 5, however, ordered for punitive departmental actions to be taken against CID Special Superintendent Abdul Kahar Akhand, investigation officer in the BDR carnage case, for conduct-
ing incomplete probe. Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court also linked chief public prosecutor Anisul Huq and his deputy Mosharraf Hossain Kajal with the incomplete investigation. Anisul Huq is now the law minister of the Awami League-led government. Kajal was one of the prosecutors of the Bangabandhu murder case as well. The investigator could not extract [any other] information from Torab apart from the confessional statement [that Torab had given]. He also told the court that none of the witnesses gave deposition against him. If nobody gave deposition, then why did he charge him [Torab]? the judgment said. The court suspected that the investigator did not record any witness account against Torab out of bias. The judgment against Torab was delivered on the basis of the confessional statement. Meanwhile, for Pintu, the court took two witness accounts into consideration. The court also said Pintu was a feared person, especially among witnesses, because of his power and influence in his area. l
of Rakib Hasan to his family members yesterday afternoon, said Mirzapur police station Officer-in-Charge Golam Mostafa. The body was handed over to Rakibs father Abdus Sobahan around 5.20pm, he informed. Bounty amount increased Police yesterday increased the bounty from Tk 2 lakh to Tk 5 lakh each for the capture of the JMB men, who were snatched away by fellow activists from a police van. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Qamrul Ahsan, senior information officer at the Police Headquarters, confirmed the matter and said: Tk5 lakh will be rewarded to anyone who will be able to capture or help in the arrest of any of the two convicted JMB leaders. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Dhaka Range Police Mahfujul Huq Nuruzzaman, earlier on Sunday evening, announced a Tk2 lakh as bounty on the heads of three convicted JMB men. Meanwhile, the driver of one of the microbus used in the JMB operation, Zakariya Himel, and another JMB suspect Anwar Hossain Rasel were placed on a 20-day remand in two separate cases. l
because the real cause and motive behind the barbaric incident could not be established beyond doubt. However, the report that the committee placed identified the negative attitude of the general BDR members towards the army officers and their discontent over unfulfilled demands as the primary causes of the mutiny. An analysis of the demands gives the impression that such small demands cannot be the main cause of such a heinous incident. These points have been used to influence the general BDR soldiers. The main conspirators may have used these causes to instigate the incident; they themselves worked from behind the curtains to destabilise the nation, the report said. However, no initiative to unearth the real reason behind the killing has been visible since that report came out
in 2009. When contacted, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan, who took over last month, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that he could not comment on the matter because he was yet to examine the reports filed in connection with the mutiny. On November 5 last year, a Dhaka court handed down death sentences to 152 people, including a civilian, and various jail terms to hundreds of BDR personnel in the carnage case. Although Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman of the Third Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judges Court of Dhaka discussed many possible reasons behind the mutiny and the killings, he could not come to any conclusion in this regard. The judgment said: Some grievances piled up among the BDR soldiers based on some logical/illogical allegations and demands. But killing of so
many army officers did not match with their grievances. It seems that a quarter took the opportunity to serve their narrow interests by destroying the overall security and stability of the country using the demands of BDR rebels, the judge observed. According to the judgment, there were five possible reasons that could have led to the mutiny: those were military and security, diplomacy, economy, politics and society. Just like the judge and the probe committee, the families of the victims are also still in the dark about the reasons behind the bloody mutiny. After the pronouncement of verdict in the carnage case, some family members, including the widows, of the slain army officers expressed dissatisfaction over the fact that the verdict failed to throw any light on the real cause. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
3
Explosives case transferred as judge felt embarrassed
Islam Shaon and n Ashif Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
The case filed under the Explosives Act in connection with the 2009 BDR mutiny has been transferred from the court of Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Akhtaruzzaman to that of Metropolitan Sessions Judge Jahurul Haque because the former felt embarrassed to conduct the trial. On February 6, Jahurul Haque issued an order stating that the case had been withdrawn from Md Akhtaruzzamans court and placed in his file for the sake of justice; but did not mention why the judge felt embarrassed. However, sources at the law ministry said Akhteruzzaman would be transferred to the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka soon. Supreme Court Registrar AKM Shamsul Islam said a proposal for a government order to transfer him to the training institute had been sent to the law ministry. The proposal includes the names of some other officials as well. As far as I know, Akhtaruzzaman will be transferred to the Judicial Administration Training Institute, he told the Dhaka Tribune. In the explosives case filed with the New Market Police Station, a total of 834 BDR (now BGB) members have been made accused and 26 prosecution witnesses have been examined so far. March 3 had been fixed for further hearing. Apart from the explosives case, a murder case was filed with the same police station in connection with the killing of 74 people including 57 army officials inside Pilkhana on February 25-26 in 2009. Trial of both the cases began at Jahurul Haques court; but on September 15, 2013, the cases were transferred to Akhtaruzzamans court. On November 5 last year, Akhteruzzaman handed down death sentences to 151 former BDR personnel and one civilian in the carnage case. In the meantime, the explosives case remained pending. In the verdict, Akhtaruzzaman observed that Additional Chief Prosecutor Musharraf Hossain Kajol had not cooperated with the court since the case had been transferred. The court also put the same blame on Chief Prosecutor Anisul Huq, now the Law Minister in the Awami League-led government. Recently, the law minister was asked if there was a connection between the transfer of the case and the observations the judge had made. In reply, he said: Its [the case transfer] only because the judge felt embarrassed. He also said trying the explosives case in a different court would be a good idea because Akhtaruzaman had already delivered judgment in another case filed in connection with the same incident. l
File photos show glimpses after the February 25 26 BDR massacre at the paramilitary forces Pilkhana headquarters in 2009. A total of 74 people, including 57 army officers, were killed in the carnage SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN However, no such leaflets were ever made. In its observation, the court said: The BDR members had both rational and irrational demands. This court does not understand what made the authorities think that merely distributing counter-leaflets would resolve the problem. Spreading leaflets was not a new technique for soldiers to air their grievances, especially before the annual parade. But it is true that the leaflets distributed before the 2009 mutiny contained clear threats to the officers. The authority failed to realise and evaluate the depth of those threats. The BDR authority also did not let other intelligence forces know about the leaflets and the threats. Some RSU members had connections with the rebellions. The court said the paramilitary force had been commanded by army officers for 218 years and there had been a gap between the officers and soldiers since the very beginning. It was clear that the commanding officers did not trust their divisional BDR officers. A vested interest group used the dissatisfaction and mistrust to spread anger against the officers. The court also identified some loopholes which had helped the rebels revolt. It said the BDR authority had acted unprofessionally in containing the mutiny and the rescue process. The BDR and the home ministry had lacked coordination, supervision and accountability.
she narrated. They [BDR men] stopped us at the gate, beat me up with rifles and rammed me with boots. Half an hour later, we were confined to the Quarter Guard where many other families were kept, she recounted. Officers hunted and killed Immediately after the mutiny started, some army officials took shelter in the toilet of the Darbal Hall. At one stage, they broke open a window and slid to a shade behind the hall. The killers hunted them down and killed them by brushfire. These brutal murders came out in
confessional statements given by the accused and the witness depositions. What the court said They ripped the skin off and cut limbs from the dead bodies of some officers using knives and other sharp tools. The faces of the dead bodies were smashed beyond recognition... [mutineers] killed some officers by shoving rifle barrels and firing right into their mouths. The faces of some officers, who were already dead by then, were burnt with acid. That was how the trial court described the brutality witnessed by the Pilkhana headquarters of the then BDR, now BGB. l
Witnesses : Mir Kashem threatened BNP wins in Hasinas seat n to chop us into pieces
UNB, Rangpur
UPAZILA POLLS
n Udisa Islam
Two new prosecution witnesses against Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali have said the accused had threatened to chop them into pieces and dump them in Karnaphuli River during the Liberation War. During their testimonies, the witnesses also accused Kashem of forcing them to disclose information about the plans and positions of freedom fighters. Sixty-year-old Salauddin, who is the nephew of eighth prosecution witness Eskander Alam Chowdhury, submitted his deposition at the ICT 2 yesterday and corroborated the deposition of his uncle. Mir Kashem grilled me at Dalim Hotel and repeatedly asked about the Freedom Fighters. When he failed to get any information, he told me, If you
do not tell me, I will cut you in pieces and dump those in the river Karnaphuli. Mir Kashem then asked al-Badr men to beat me more, said Salauddin alias Chuttu Miah. Salauddin said his uncles, Eskender and Jakaria, and cousins, Nazim and Jafar, were abducted by al-Badr men on November 30, 1971. All of them were confined and tortured at the Dalim Hotel, before they managed to free themselves with the help of family members. Following Salauddins deposition, his uncle Jakaria, 72, also testified at the court and gave similar description of events as his nephew. He said armed al-Badr men captured them from their home just four or five days after the Eid-ul-Fitr in 1971. The abducted men were first taken to the MMC Model School in Chandgaon, while all
the confined people were later moved to the Dalim Hotel, Jakaria added. The witness told the tribunal that some al-Badr men came and flooded the room with water to prevent them from sleeping on the floor. After their brief depositions, defence counsel Advocate Mizanul Islam cross-examined the witnesses, suggesting that both of them were giving deposition under the instructions of the prosecution. Both witness disagreed with the defence counsel. Following the cross-examination, the two-member ICT 2 adjourned the hearing until Tuesday. Kashem, who is facing 14 charges for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971, was produced at the tribunal during the deposition. l
BNP-backed candidate Nur Mohammad Mondal was elected chairman of Pirganj upazila in the upazila parishad poll yesterday. Nur Mohammad bagged 74,992 votes against Awami League-backed Chhayadat Hossain Bakuls 70,877
votes and Awami Leagues rebel candidate Habib Mukits 13,872 votes. The results of the election to the upazila, which is in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas constituency, were announced around 11:45pm. Voting in the upazila ended peacefully amid tight security. There were 262,735 registered voters in the upazila. l
4
n Our correspondent, Barisal
Masked miscreants hijacked Tk60lakh from agents of bKash, a mobile banking service provider company, from near one of its transaction points in Hospital Road area in Barisal around 1:30pm yesterday. They fired four rounds of bullets and hurled five crude bombs injuring four people, three bKash agents and one pedestrian. Shahinur Rahman, a bKash agent and manager of a shop, Wave Enterprise in the area, lodged a case with Kotwali police station in this connection He said Monir Hossain and Md Ibrahim, two sales executives of bKash were on their way to office on a rickshaw after collecting Tk5lakh from sub-agents and withdrawing Tk54.5lakh from IFIC bank which was situated about half a kilometer away from the office. As they reached near the office, a group of masked miscreants came on a private car and fired gunshots. They punctured the tires of the rickshaw and snatched away the two bags filled with the money from the two officials, he said. They also blast cocktails on the spot that created panic in the area and injured a pedestrian Chanbaru, 60, said police. Local youths chased the hijackers on motorcycle and stopped it at Boidyapara area, about two kilometers from the spot, They caught the driver Shahidul Islam, 35, and gave him a good beating, however, the other miscreants managed to flee, said Shahinur Rahman. The car and the driver were handed over to police. The three injured bKash agents are Monir Hossain, 26, Md Ibrahim, 28, and Reaz, 25. Nineteen crude bombs were recovered from the car and two sharp
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Two arrested for killing Swechchasebok League leader n Mohammad Jamil Khan
Members of Detective Branch of police in a special raid arrested two persons early yesterday on charges of killing Swechchasebok League leader Mahbubur Rahan Rana on January 23. The two are Kamran, 20, and Saddam, 21, close associates of Roni, the citys Mogbazar-based godfather. The DB said the duo confessed to them about the murder. The lawmen also recovered a firearm and two rounds of bullets from their possession. Addressing a press briefing yesterday morning at media and community centre of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB, mentioned that Roni and his cohorts killed the leader in a preplanned way to establish supremacy over cable business in Mogbazar area. The killers used sharp weapons and firearms for killing the leader, Monirul said, adding that they also blasted crude bombs and fired gunshots while leaving the murder spot. He added that they found the pistol and bullets recovered from the arrestees possession matched with those recovered from the killing spot. Acting on a tip-off, a DB team made the arrest of the two from Shibchar police station under Madaripur district, said Monirul. The arrestees would be produced before the court for a 10-day remand to know the details of the incident and we are looking for other criminals who are still hiding, he added. l
A local brings out crude bombs from a bag and disposes them in a bucket full of water is Barisal yesterday weapons from adjacent areas, said Shakhawat Hossain, officer-incharge of Kotwali police station. The arrested driver Shahidul claimed to be innocent and told that the three dacoits had rented him from capitals Mirpur-2 area on Friday. They first went to Subidpur village under Patuakhali district and stayed there. After getting assurance from their sources, they headed for Barisal in the morning when another man had joined them, said police quoting the detainee. After visiting the spot, ATM Mujahidul Islam, deputy commissioner (south)
DHAKA TRIBUNE
of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said a nine-member team of police and Rapid Action Battalion had started conducting drives to nab the absconding miscreants and recover the money. l
WEATHER
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:08am 6:23am 12:12am 4:22pm 5:59pm 7:15pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The ongoing construction of the Moghbazar-Malibagh flyover forces buses line up along the capitals Malibagh area yesterday
FOCUS BANGLA
n RU Correspondent
The Awami League-backed yellow panel teachers won all 15 executive committee posts in the Rajshahi University Teachers Association (RUTA) polls yesterday. The election was held at Zubeeri building from 8am to 2pm. Chief Election Commissioner Professor Saiful Islam declared the result of the polls at 6:45pm. He said a total of 969 votes out 1,183 was recorded to be cast. Yellow panel Professor Kamrul Hasan Majumdar of Geology and Mining Department was elected as the president receiving 507 votes. Professor Pranab Kumar Pandey of Public Administration Department was elected as the general secretary with 459 votes. Professor Morttuja Khaled of History, Professor M Habibur Rahman of Chemistry and Professor Moshihur Rahman of Mass Communication and Journalism Department were also elected as vice-president, treasurer and joint secretary respectively. l
Students of East West University take part in the 13th convocation of the university in the city yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Students of Jagannath University stage a demonstation in front of the National Press Club area in the capital yesterday
MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Passengers ride a shallow-engine run vehicle, commonly known as Nosimon-Korimon or Votvoti, in Jhenaidah yesterday, even though there is a direct prohibition from the High Court over such vehicles FOCUS BANGLA
This is an online Tender, where only e-Tender will be accepted in the National e-GP portal and no ofine/hard copies will be accepted. To submit e-Tender, registration in the National e-GP System Portal (http://www.eprocure.gov. bd) is required. The fees for downloading the e-Tender Documents from the National e-GP System portal have to be deposited online through any registered Banks branches up to Banking hours on 19.03.2014. Further information and guidelines are available in the National e-GP System Portal and from e-GP help desk (helpdesk@eprocure.gov.bd) (0176262552831). (http://www.eprocure.gov.bd/). (A.T.M Khalequzzaman) Executive Engineer Laxmipur O&M Division BWDB, Laxmipur.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Long Form
n Moin Ghani
ur Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban complex (parliament building), designed by the renowned architect Louis Kahn, is recognised globally as one of the greatest architectural monuments of the 20th century. Today it may be considered as part of our cultural heritage. However, the sanctity of the design of this majestic building complex could not be protected due to lack of artistic sensibilities on the part of government officials, the greed for land, and paranoia about security of public servants. All these factors have led to the creeping disfigurement of this national monument; the latest being the mindless construction of a metal bar fence around the main building of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban. The unplanned urban expansion of Dhaka city over the last few decades has meant that today the fields surrounding the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban complex are one of the handful of open spaces where the citizens can go for recreation. The current wall construction project will effectively cage the parliament building and fence off the citizens from the surrounding fields. This will mean that yet another open green space will be taken away from the citizens.
The parliament complex have suffered periodic defacement at the hands of the authority which have been insensitive to its architectural beauty umn of light, and each brick has significance and contributes to the overall ascetic beauty of the entire complex. Deviations and changes in the composition and structure of the individual buildings, without any thought as to the overall composition and beauty of the complex, only diminished the value of the entire monument. When one gets a birds eye of the entire complex one realizes that the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban is actually meant to be a star in the middle of a crescent, signified by the crescent lake. This was symbolic of the star and crescent that existed in the Pakistan flag at the time the project was commissioned. The core of the building that houses the legislative assembly is a domed amphitheatre that also allows natural light to enter the premises. These spaces and corridors surrounding the amphitheatre in the centre are meant to be surrounded by what has been described as light and air courts. Kahns aim was to create a modern building while utilizing the local heritage and culture. To this end the water bodies on the three sides of the core of the building portray the rivers of Bangladesh. The steps from these water bodies leading to the main complex are meant to represent the riverbanks of Bangladesh. The open green lawns surrounding the main building complex obviously represent the greenery of Bangladesh. However, there is a deeper symbolic meant to be restricted areas. The legislative assembly of lawmakers inside the house was meant to complement the assembly of citizens on the lawns. This was designed to reflect the deep-rooted notion that in a democratic society the people were the ultimate source of power. They were never meant to be marginalised. In a philosophical sense, the institution of democracy was meant to emerge from the light, columns, and open spaces of the Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban complex. projects were initiated at the insistence of the then honourable speaker of the parliament. This action of the authorities to build the houses for the speaker and the deputy speaker were challenged before the High Court Division of the Supreme Court and buildings were declared to have been constructed illegally by the High Court. Unfortunately, in the face of opposition by the State, spearheaded by the then Attorney General himself, that judgment was overturned on appeal, in unusual circumstances, at the end of the last BNP regime. or the Washington Monument in Washington DC. In each of those countries there are building codes and laws which are effectively implemented to protect the respective national monuments. These landmark buildings are seen to represent the heritage and culture of the states that house them, and the public authorities are bestowed with
is another of the series of measures aimed to take away from the public what should be rightfully theirs.
Conclusion
Regrettably, no attempt has been made to explain why such a measure of fencing off the main building was required or how it was proportionate
If military generals could run their parliaments keeping the adjacent fields open to the public, why would a democratic parliament need to fence off the lawns?
The lawns and open spaces were never meant to be restricted areas. The legislative assembly of lawmakers inside the house was meant to complement the assembly of citizens on the lawns
a special duty to preserve and protect them. In India, the courts have held that factories resulting in air pollution causing damage to the Taj Mahal are to be removed from the vicinity of the monument. In Washington DC there are building restrictions which ensure that none of the buildings are built higher than the Washington Monument. Similarly, the authorities in London ensure that the views of St Pauls Cathedral from various prominent locations around the city are not obstructed by construction. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh neither laws nor the public authorities have been active in preserving and protecting our Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban complex.
meaning to the lawns. The lawns were designed in such a manner so as to be open and accessible to the citizens of the state. It was envisaged that citizens, young and old, would be able to visit the areas surrounding their national legislative building, which would house the members elected by them. The purpose of this openness was to make the people realise that the elected legislature in a democratic polity belongs to them, the people. The lawns and open spaces were never
to the so-called security threat to the National Legislature. As far as security is concerned, while the parliament is in session, the area around the parliament can been guarded or patrolled without having to fence off the entire area. It may be pertinent to consider whether we want a democracy where the citizens have to be cordoned off from even the lawns and steps outside of the parliament, which is meant to reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people. If military generals could run their parliaments keeping the adjacent fields open to the public, why would a democratic parliament need to fence off the lawns? Why should we be so insensitive to the architectural value of the only globally recognised building that we have in Bangladesh? Is this the price of security? We, the citizens, appeal to the Speaker of the parliament, under whose Secretariat the construction is taking place, to take necessary steps to halt construction of the wall or fence. Madam Honble Speaker, you have taken an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Please help us prevent the disfigurement and damage to our Jatiya Sangshad Bhaban complex in violation of Article 24 of the Constitution. Please explore alternative means of ensuring security, which would not destroy the artistic and architectural beauty of the complex. Please do not deny the citizens the open lawns which they have always enjoyed. l Moin Ghani is an advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
n Reuters
The military-backed government of Egypt has resigned, said the prime minister yesterday, paving the way for army chief Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy for president of a strategic US ally gripped by political strife. (The government) made every effort to get Egypt out of the narrow tunnel in terms of security, economic pressures and political confusion, Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said in a live nationwide speech. Beblawi, who was tasked by interim President Adly Mansour with running the governments affairs until the election, did not give a clear reason for the decision. For Sisi to run for president he would first need to leave his post as defense minister. This (government resignation) was done as a step that was needed ahead of Sisis announcement that he will run for president, an Egyptian official said. He told Reuters that the cabinet had resigned en masse as Sisi did not want to appear to be acting alone. The top military commander has unveiled a political roadmap meant to
Egyptian army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi lead to elections after toppling Islamist President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood in July following mass protests against his rule. The vote is expected within months in Egypt, which has great geo-strategic importance due to its peace treaty with Israel and control over the Suez Canal, a vital global
AFP
shipping lane that is the shortest between Asia and Europe. Egypts stock market rose 0.26% after news of the governments departure to 8029.37 points, reversing losses from earlier in the day. Mursis removal triggered the bloodiest political crisis in Egypts modern history, with security forces killing
hundreds of Brotherhood supporters, jailing thousands and putting top leaders on trial. The Muslim Brotherhood accused Sisi of plotting a coup, and human rights groups say that abuses under his watch are growing by the day, allegations the army-backed government denies. The government has also cracked down on some secular activists who were instrumental in unrest that overthrew autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and who supported Mursis removal. They are languishing in prisons and face trial. Compounding the instability in the Arab worlds largest country, Islamist militants based in the widely lawless Sinai Peninsula have intensified attacks on police and soldiers, killing hundreds. The Sinai-based group Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing which killed two South Koreans last week, inflicting yet more harm on a tourism industry already gutted by political turmoil and protests. Ansar also said that it was behind high-profile assassinations of top Interior Ministry officials. l
n Reuters, Washington
Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will propose on Monday a reduction in the size of the US Army to its smallest size since before World War Two and scrapping a class of Air Force attack jets, the New York Times reported on Sunday. The plans, which the paper said were outlined by several Pentagon officials on condition of anonymity, would be aimed at reducing defence spending in the face of government austerity after a pledge by President Barack Obama to end US involvement in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would leave the military capable of defeating any enemy but too small for long foreign occupations, and would involve greater risk if US forces were asked to carry out two large-scale military actions at the same time. You have to always keep your institution prepared, but you cant carry a large land-war Defence Department when there is no large land war, the Times quoted a senior Pentagon official as saying. It added that some of the plans may face political opposition in Congress, but quoted the officials as saying that they had the endorsement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. l
Europe stirs
Embargoes, sanctions and boycotts, along with internal resistance, helped bring about the isolation and eventually the end of apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s. Pro-Palestinian, or anti-Israeli, activists hope to use the same tactics to force Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a deal to create an independent Palestine based on the
n Reuters, Caracas
A meeting between a top Venezuelan opposition leader and President Nicolas Maduro on Monday may help ease nearly two weeks of violent anti-government protests that have killed at least eight people. State governor Henrique Capriles will meet Maduro at a routine gathering of governors and mayors and will likely get a chance to present the oppositions grievances. The daily unrest has sharpened the bitter divide between critics and supporters of the ruling Socialist Party, although even Maduros rivals appear to be growing weary of blocked streets and constant clashes between students and police. Dialogue is not about listening to what the government wants to say, its about making sure the demonstrators voices are heard, Capriles, a two-time opposition presidential candidate, wrote on Sunday in his weekly column. Five people have died from gunshot wounds in the unrest that began on February 12 with the death of a student protestor and was later fuelled by the arrest of hard-line opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. Maduro, who has vowed to nurture the self-styled socialist revolution he inherited from late president Hugo Chavez, calls the demonstrations acts of terrorism by fascists seeking a coup similar to the one that briefly ousted Chavez in 2002. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
This video grab taken on November 7, 2013, shows Asmatullah Shaheen (R), caretaker chief Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), announcing the new leader of TTP AFP into talks with the Taliban aimed at ending their seven-year insurgency. But the militant group continued carrying out attacks on a near-daily basis, and the dialogue was suspended last week after the insurgents claimed they had executed 23 kidnapped soldiers in a northwestern tribal region. Since then the Pakistan Air Force has been carrying out air strikes in the volatile tribal regions which border Afghanistan, killing dozens. Gul, the analyst, said he was sceptical the process could resume. The future of these talks is bleak, he said. l
n Agencies
In a major jolt to Lalu Prasad, 13 Bihar MLAs of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have submitted their resignation from the party to the speaker of the states assembly on Monday. However, according to TV reports, 6 of them have returned to the party. RJD has 22 MLAs in the Bihar assembly. The rebel MLAs are likely to join hands with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars JD(U) for the coming Lok Sabha elections according to reports. Earlier on Sunday, there had been reports that Lalus long-time ally Ram Vilas Paswan decided to join hands with archrival BJP. A senior leader from Paswans Lok Janshakti Party had said that his party has decided to go with
BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls. After a meeting of LJP leaders at Paswans residence, former MP and party leader Surajbhan Singh told reporters,Alliance between LJP and BJP has been finalized. However, LJP secretary general Abdul Khalik told PTI that no final decision has been taken, and only parliamentary board of LJP can decide it. In a recent interview with Times Nows Arnab Goswami, Lalu Prasadhad said that he would one day become Prime Minister as he refused to accept that conviction in the fodder scam was the end of the road to his prime ministerial ambition. He said he was confident that the higher courts would overturn his conviction and his party workers would fight the elections till he is acquitted. l
India has dropped a plan to prosecute two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen under a tough anti-piracy law, a government lawyer said on Monday, offering a chance to end a diplomatic row between the two countries. Italy had strongly opposed India invoking the law, arguing that it would amount to treating the men as terrorists and last week it recalled its ambassador to New Delhi in protest against the delay in the two-year-old case. The sailors, part of a military security team protecting a privately-owned cargo ship, say they mistook the fishermen for pirates and fired warning shots into the water during the incident in February 2012, off the coast of Kerala state. l
China, eyeing Japan, seeks WW2 focus for Xi during Germany visit
n Reuters, Beijing
China wants to make World War Two a key part of a trip by President Xi Jinping to Germany next month, much to Berlins discomfort, diplomatic sources said, as Beijing tries to use German atonement for its wartime past to embarrass Japan. China has increasingly contrasted Germany and its public contrition for the Nazi regime to Japan, where repeated official apologies for wartime suffering are sometimes undercut by contradictory comments by conservative politicians. Ties between the two Asian rivals worsened when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Tokyos Yasukuni Shrine on December 26, which China sees as a symbol of Tokyos past militarism because it honours wartime leaders along with millions of war dead. Xi will visit Germany in late March, as well as France, the Netherlands and Belgium, Beijing-based diplomats said. Chinas Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Xis agenda as the trip has yet to be formally announced. China wants a strong focus on World War Two when Xi visits Germany and Germany is not happy, said one diplomatic source who has been briefed on Chinas plans for the Xi trip. The German government declined to comment. But the diplomatic sources said Germany did not want to get dragged into the dispute between China and Japan, and dislikes China constantly bringing up Germanys painful past. A second diplomatic source with knowledge of the trip said China had proposed Xi visit the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin. When that was immediately rejected by Germany, Beijing suggested Xi go to Berlins Neue Wache Memorial, which honours war dead but not recognized war criminals. The Holocaust is a no go area, the source said, adding it was unclear if the Neue Wache Memorial visit would go ahead. Germany does not want the negative legacy of the war to dominate or take centre stage during a state visit, the source added, explaining the objection to the Holocaust Memorial visit. China wanted German officials to go to Japan and tell them how to cope with history, the source added. l
China has never and will never recognize the US so-called special envoy for the Tibet problem
Human rights groups say China tramples on the rights of Tibetans and employs brutal methods to enforce its rule. More than 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest against China. Most have died. Communist Chinese troops took control of Tibet in 1950. China says it peacefully liberated the remote region that it says was mired in poverty, exploitation and economic stagnation. l
AFP
10
www.dhakatribune.com
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
t is concerning that four of the six Chhatra League activists accused for the murder of Zubair Ahmed, a student of Jahanginagar University, were able to escape from the dock soon after their bail had been cancelled. We are disappointed that authorities were not able to take better precautions to prevent such a gross lack of respect, not only to our justice system, but to the deceased and his family. Why the accused in a murder trial were granted bail in the first place is difficult enough to comprehend. That four people charged with the murder of their fellow student were not detained but allowed to return home on bail was a failure itself. However, in view of the recent actions and behaviour of the accused, it seems inexcusable that there were hardly any police deployed in the court premises, which allowed the culprits to flee. Considering that these offenders had also been threatening the victims friends recently, and especially since the investigation report filed in this regard found the allegations to be true, steps should have been taken earlier to secure them. Law enforcement is entrusted with making sure that defendants do not skip bail or escape justice. When offenders can skip bail and trials are left unfinished, it weakens public confidence in our justice system. The entire bail process has to be administered more effectively, and police must do everything necessary to catch those who absconded.
When offenders can skip bail and trials are left unfinished, it weakens public confidence in our justice system
Be Heard
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
February 18 While Mushfiq is right, I would venture to say that what we need are good batsmen. Thats where we fall short. Md Phk
Recognition of local languages will help indigenous and minority communities make their voices heard and allow us to learn from their cultural heritage
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Suffering (4) 3 Permits (4) 7 Golf mound (3) 8 Authoritative command (5) 11 Talk wildly (4) 12 Unwelcome task (5) 13 Brilliance of success (5) 15 Place of trade (4) 18 Regrets (4) 19 Puzzling question (5) 20 Make effort (5) 21 Church service (4) 23 Cautions (5) 24 Consumed (3) 25 Stagger (4) 26 Kill (4) DOWN 1 Like better (6) 2 Frozen formation (6) 4 Greek letter (3) 5 Time of holding (6) 6 Become firm (3) 9 Pursues (6) 10 Toddler (3) 11 Sucking fish (6) 14 Clergyman (6) 16 Starry (6) 17 Reliable (6) 19 Church seat (3) 21 Spoil (3)
SUDOKU
YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword
How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no numberrepeating.
Sudoku
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
It wasnt cricket
A
n Mohammad Ali Sattar
midst the hullabaloo of the ongoing local government elections and the continuing political diatribe, a cricket contest has just finished. If not the whole nation, a large chunk of cricket fans were in high spirits to see the Sri Lankan team visit Dhaka to watch our boys for a fairly long series that included two tests, two T20s and three ODIs. It has been a happy break from recent political turmoil. Hapless fans and followers of the game would have been happier if our boys fared better. It was a remorseful affair. The outcome of the tour was dismal and disgracing to say the least. I say disgracing simply because I am one of the ardent followers of cricket, have been since my childhood. Having played cricket up to a significant level, I cant ignore or not be drawn in the proceedings of each game. The joy and hope know no bounds when we have our team in the contest. However hard we try to downplay our team and their efforts and performances, deep down in our hearts, we want them to shine and win, or show the best they can to make us proud. We have been struggling for some time to get our stature right. We are not being offered test matches by countries that matter. The recent crisis in the ICC (brought on by the socalled Big Three) regarding amending the ICC regulations and country status also nearly put us out of the regular test rank. However, this has been tackled with our support and conviction. At home, we have had the BPL match-fixing scams. One time great Ashraful comes out of the closet and admits his association with the fixing nexus and loses his reputation and career, and Bangladesh loses a prized wicket. Add to it the recent shameful act by none other than the top ranking cricketer Shakib al Hasan, who has been handed a three match ban and a fine. His penalty should have been harsher. He has several times in the past created such nuisances, and many expect he will do it in the future as well. The last couple of series played against the West Indies and New Zealand were simply outstanding. All thought that the boys had at last come of age. Nobody imagined what awaited the team and the nation in the series against Sri Lanka. The first test was miserably lost. We did not find the boys who beat New Zealand comprehensively. Our boys, in the first test match, did not have any clue what was going on out in the middle. It was an innings defeat by a huge margin, and a very big humiliation. The second test was a drawn affair. When this match was drawn and a few of our boys fared well, it was rightfully expected that the following series of shorter versions would be much better performed. And we thought rightfully that we stood a fair chance of winning a match or two of the series altogether. That dream was also dashed. In both T20s, we lost, although the matches went down to the wire and both were decided in the final delivery of the final over of the innings. In the first match, our batsman could not connect the final ball suitably and got out, losing the match by a mere two runs.
Deep down in our hearts, we want them to shine and win, or show the best they can to make us proud
n Lt Col Waliullah
ebruary 25 could be like any other day, but now it is marked as a red-letter day because on this day we lost 57 of our men who had to give their lives in the most barbarous manner possible. History cannot bear testimony to a war when the country lost 57 of their men on a single day. The previous day, the smartly turned out contingent did salute the head of the state. An impressively colourful parade was presented after the soldiers were drenched in sweat. The day after, the soldiers expected thanks from the leader who led them in the march. What could have been a day full of merriment turned out to be a day when the sky turned gloomy a day when the blessings of the seniors were to be showering on the juniors turned into one of hatred. Bangladesh Rifles had a golden legacy of being the torchbearer of the national standard. The role of the East Pakistan Rifles men in the glorious Liberation War can never be forgotten. It
was during the onset of the Liberation War that the BDR men did show their courage, and the grateful nation still remembers that. The carnage that took place tarnished the image of the disciplined force, blood was spilt over the grass so green, within no time the killing started. The led killed their leaders, and they were so cruel that they did not even show their kindness to the dead ones.
the men receive to treat the prisoners if otherwise apprehended? They were men who were comrades both in war and peace, all of them were supposed to fight the enemy and defend the sovereignty of their motherland. The green flag with the red circle was what was dear to all of those who inspired them to use their guns and fire at the leaders who prepared them to fight the enemy. The friend turned out to be their enemy.
The carnage that took place tarnished the image of the disciplined force, blood spilt over the grass so green, within no time the killing started
What kind of Muslims were they, who burnt the bodies and mutilated them, and left them uncared for without observing the rituals? Did the men who led them deserve the barbaric manner they were put into? What training did
The BDR tragedy is one which makes us confident to believe that we have made ourselves insecure. People who were destined to make us secure have become insecure. After almost five years, can we believe
that we have taken enough measures to battle against insecurity for ensuring security? The BDR men did fall in a conspiracy. The pertinent question is what we did for the families of the men who were said to have killed and conspired. Nobody can replace the sorrow of the dead ones; nobody can bring them back to Gods earth. Nobody can wipe the tears of their loved ones. We can only pray that the departed ones rest in heaven. They have earned an untimely departure in the most barbaric manner. On this day, we would urge upon all to view the matter of those who fell prey to this conspiracy in the most humane way, and help the lives of the families come out of distress. The ones behind this heinous act should have received exemplary punishment. It is difficult to find words to console the families of the departed ones. We can only say God is sure to give you strength, and the dear ones are sure to rest in peace. l Lt Col Waliullah (retired) is a columnist and has earned a Diploma on Public Affairs from DINFOS, USA.
The second T20 was a further tragedy. Our bowler could not contain the Sri Lankan batsmen from scoring 9 runs off the final over. Farhad Reza bowled a sweet rising delivery to be hit for a boundary, giving away the match. This was unquestionably a wrong pick by our skipper to have invited Farhad Reza to bowl the final over. If the T20s were a tragedy, the ODIs were catastrophe. When you allow a team with 67 for 8 to score a formidable 180, you are already at the receiving end. Then our boys could not get to 180 in 50 overs, thanks to some senseless batting and lousy fielding! In the second ODI, again some mindless and rash batting and display of overconfidence in Shakib and others let us down. Lets not talk about the third one. We lost all and that too in a manner quite unacceptable. Our boys need not only vigourous physical training out in the middle, they also require serious psychological counseling, for cricket is a game of mind and nerves. Our boys should learn how not to play unnecessary shots, how to leave balls outside off stumps, when to go for big hits, and so on. They should shun the habit of premeditated actions. The players should keep in mind that if the bugs of overconfidence eat you, you will perish, and so will the team. When you are brimming with false confidence, you lack commitment. Clean up your mind and body, and think hard next time. The Asia Cup tourney is knocking on the door. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and DT columnist.
n Ikhtisad Ahmed
ix hundred and forty-two miles from the bloodstained streets of a capital that has been the scene of a peoples movement set the stage for professional athletes to showcase their talents on snow and ice. Their achievements and celebrations were witnessed by crowds unaffected by the upheaval across the border that will hopefully bear fruit to see the populace be the only victors. It was supposed to have been very different. The masses were supposed to have been outraged by Putins draconian anti-equality laws, not jubilant cheerleaders either ignorant of or indifferent towards injustices.
Secretly, American politicians support Putins stance of deftly turning a social and human issue into a political one. The US, the duplicitous country of Defence of Marriage Act and SB 1062 fame, is notorious for the ambivalence of its policymakers towards rights of sexual minorities, and culpability in creating a bigger problem by refusing to execute the most sacred doctrines of human rights, the very same ones they purport to champion the world over. The UKs polite castigation has been less sincere. David Cameron passed the bipartisan Gay Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 despite his partys efforts to sabotage it 136 opposed the Bill, 35 did not vote and 5 abstained because, while he courted voters, MPs on the other side of the aisle and from
The masses were supposed to have been outraged by Putins draconian anti-equality laws, not jubilant cheerleaders either ignorant or indifferent
The most vocal opponent of the Sochi games, owing to Russias oppression of sexual minorities, was the USA. As with all things American, however, the shock, horror, and denunciation of what Putin did reeks of hypocrisy. Hidden behind the verbosity of saying the right thing is a staunch, uncompromising refusal to do the right thing.
their coalition partners were decidedly humane. Nevertheless, the Conservative Party abandoned its leader during one of his rare attempts at humanity. The prime minister tried to force the Tories to be more palatable, have a larger appeal by being more equal. Instead, his leaders ran to the right in a manner reminis-
cent of the Republicans, whose soul has been lost to the Tea Party. The civil society, human rights organisations, and NGOs have their part to play in enforcing human rights. In a world where the great tragedy is that rights need to be enforced rather than unconditionally protected and preserved, these institutions are, sadly, limited. Their agendas are dictated by their funds and the sources of the money. This makes them beholden to special interest groups and lobbies that may be directly opposed to the work they are trying to do, but still find the best policy to be to fund these projects in order to dictate terms. This being the pathetic reality, the only way in which anything concrete can happen is if governments serve their people. The US and Russia have repeatedly failed. The UK has dithered and floundered. India has been no better. In 2009, the High Court repealed section 377 of the Penal Code, which, of course, was enforced by the epitome of equality, the antiquated British Raj. Homosexuality was decriminalised, sending ripples of hope throughout the region. The quiet murmurs of campaigning for such equality were silenced by the Supreme Courts decision to reverse this decision last year, thereby preserving the status quo of inequality in India. One concrete step taken by a government recently to ensure rights for gender and sexual minorities has come in the shape of hijras being given legal standing as a separate gender in Bangladesh. Supposedly a conserva-
The jubilation remains unaffected by the chaos across the border tive country, this could not have been a popular decision, especially outside of the bourgeois circles. A nationwide poll, conducted in line with the recent trend of asserting everything for the people, will prove that a plebiscite on the subject would not have been favourable. It was passed nonetheless, and it was a significant step in the right direction. The counter argument is that equality, mandated by the Constitution, is absolute, and should not need specific laws to reaffirm or enforce. Unfortunately, inequality is rife in Bangladesh, and even the passage of laws intended to counter it is rarely enough. Otherwise, the government would certainly have risked the wrath of the upper and middle classes by enacting laws to wrestle wealth and power away from them and afford protection to the masses who barely qualify as belonging to the lower class. The only surprise is that more of the equal rights warriors locally and internationally have not rallied behind the hijra laws, and pushed for the same benevolent luxuries to be extended to other minorities. Perhaps they have been polling. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.
AFP
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Hasan Mansoor Chatak
The musical supergroup Mahaphon Clang, consisting of the emergent Germany-based band Lautstark!4 and internationally renowned percussionist Ramesh Shotham performed at the Goethe-Institut Berlin Hall on February 23, as a part of their Mela Thing-2014 tour. The jazz-funk fusion band surprised the crowd with their rendition of instru-vocal, funk guitar work and a variety of percussion instruments with dexterity. All the musical pieces presented at the concert reflects real life experiences of the performers, such as Ramesh Shothams experience of getting lost in the busy push and pull of the city, the band members six to seven hour long journey from Chennai to Bangalore and many more. Thus, the music of Mahaphon Clang can be best described as multi-folklore, urban improvised music and is determined by continuously changing influences from the exterior. The Mahaphon Clang is electrifying and enthralling the audiences in every concert and every session, by shifting to a different direction caused by any newly gained inspiration. And finally, it is about the courage of both the musicians and the audience to enter a stage or a concert without really knowing what might happen. Jan Friedrich Kurth, frontman of the supergroup revealed the philosophy of their kinetic music to Dhaka Tribune: We are not representing German music here, it is just one of the aspect of the German music scene. Our music is the eccentric sound which lies underneath every humans mind or soul. We try to render that sound by sudden improvisation onstage. The jazz-funk band is highly inspired by New York based trio Medeski Martin & Wood and additionally by the rock music from the 70s, free
QUAMRUL ABEDIN
TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
Jibon Dhuli By Tanvir Mokammel Time: 3pm 11pm, Shawkat Osman Auditorium Public Library 47 Ronin (3D), Aakash Koto Dure, Thor: The Dark World 3D, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D, Frozen in 3D, Shunte Ki Pao, Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City
Exhibition
Duet Art Exhibition By Hashem Khan and Mohammad Iqbal Time: 12pm 8pm Gallery Twenty One, 751 Satmasjid Road
n Shadma Malik
The third series of metal artworks Metal-Metaphorsis-II by Babla Seeth was held on February 23 at his Gulshan residence. The metal installation was once again based on his series of recycling art. Babla has mastered the art of recycling industrial wastes such as nails, old chains, nut, bolts, washers, old wires and many other materials through creating beautiful pieces of art with them. Like every year, the visual artist made an attempt to produce incredible art and artifacts. His artworks include faces, statues, masks and lanterns that are vibrant and attractive to look at. The artists mastery of using metals to turns into unique sculptures and decorative wall pieces is quite noticeable and each and every of his work has originality that emanates talent. His work itself is open to interpretation but his unique style and curious material choice certainly sets him apart in the contemporary and visual art arena. His first metal art exhibition was on love and then, on the faces of freedom fighters. This time, his statues represent working class people.
Using wire, brass, copper and nuts, the statuary are extensively powerful to look upon. Distortion and mutation of the human body is portrayed through sculptures. His sculpture Drummer has a folk essence in its form. His one-of-akind statue of Jesus is a magnificent piece of art and will surely get critics appreciation. All the masks displayed at the exhibit were made with precision and detail. On his artwork Lantern Chimney, the artist said: When I went to the glass factory, the idea popped in my mind to produce a lantern with glass. To blend in the digital era, Babla has used a waste hard disk and turned it into a table lamp. About the artifact, he said: These hard disks were thrown out. I made an attempt to give them an aesthetic view and sell it to art lovers. I am an eco-conscious person. It is always my attempt to convey the message to people to go for recycling, said Babla. Babla Seeth is an American of Indian origin who is currently living in Bangladesh. He loves to design furniture, paint, stitch, and weld among other works. l
ON TV
MOVIES
6:00pmStar Movies
Schindlers List
9:30pmHBO
10,000 B.C.
DRAMA
9:00pm Sony
Ek Nayi Pehchaan
MISC
11:00am TLC
Fast Food Mania
7:30pm AXN
Sport
Kumar Sangakkara - both of whom have been in superb form in Bangladesh but will miss hard hitting opener Tillakaratne Dilshan,who has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hand injury. Mahela Jayawrdene may open the innings, as he has done before with great success, along with Kusal Perera whose aggressive style has earned him a reputation for being the next Sanath Jayasuriya a status he demonstrated in smashing a century against Bangladesh in the last ODI. It will be test for both Pakistan and Sri Lanka as both the side will be looking to start the tournament on a high note to gain the confidence for the rest of the tournament. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 1 9
DAYS TO GO
14 Man United
15 We want to
PROBABLE XI
n Pakistan: Sharjeel Khan, Ahmed Shehzad, Mohammad Hafeez, Sohaib Maqsood, Misbah-Ul-Haq (capt.), Umar Akmal (wk), Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti/Anwar Ali, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Junaid Khan n Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Angelo Mathews (capt.), Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Suranga Lakmal Form guide (last five matches, most recent first) Pakistan: L W W L W Sri Lanka: W W W W L
The respective captains of the Asia Cup teams pose for an official photograph during the trophy unveiling ceremony at a local hotel yesterday
MUMIT M
We need to start fresh, says Mathews Faruk annoyed with n Mushfiq remarks
Angelo Mathews walking in at the press conference yesterday pretty much suggested how used to he has become to the path in the last one month in Bangladesh. The 26-year-old Sri Lankan captain walked in without his manager or the ACC media manager, sat on the chair and looked at all the familiar faces of the Bangladeshi journalists before he wore a smile and said start. Having completed a successful full series against Bangladesh three days ago, the Sri Lankans will take the field at Fatullah today for the Asia Cup opener against defending champions Pakistan. However, no matter how familiar he and his troop got with the conditions here, Mathews said they need to start fresh as he expects a tough contest from all the sides. We have been here for the past month and played some good cricket. But thats not going to win us games and we need to start fresh. This is a new tournament and sides are new as well, said Mathews. Its going to be an even contest and we need to play consistent cricket and better cricket to win against our oppositions. Playing away from home can be a difficult task, especially when it is in only one place. The Sri Lankans have two major tournaments in the line-up, Asia Cup and World Twenty20, so the question is whether the monotony of staying at the same place, Bangladesh, will get to the players. This couple of tournament, the Asia Cup and the World Cup, is going to be important for all of us. Its about man management and keeping yourself fit, because day in day out you have to wake up and perform consistently. Thats the challenge we have to face as players and I think we are up for it, Mathews replied. The physios and trainers are doing good and the support from the support staff has been excellent. We look forward to play better cricket, added the captain. The all-rounder admitted of playing India and Pakistan often in the recent past, but did not agree that it will give them the advantage over their opponents. We played a lot against Pakistan and India in the recent past. We know about their strengths and weaknesses, and they know about ours too. It will be about who makes less mistakes because it is going to be an even contest as all the sides are evenly balanced. We look forward to play positive cricket and win, he said. Mathews also did not agree with the fact that beating Bangladesh fair and square in the full series will help them win the Asia Cup as it will be a tough contest. As a team there is always room for improvement in all aspect of the game. We need to go from strength to strength and we are not going to think that beating Bangladesh 3-0 will win us the Asia Cup. The Sri Lankan skipper also said that the spinners will play a vital role in these pitches where the ball might turn a little bit or get slower. Spinners will be the main challenge in these wickets and all teams have good spinners. Its going to be tough for the batters too and since all teams have good batters its going to be tough for the spinners as well. Like I said it will be an even contest, said Mathews. l
n
Faruk Ahmed, the 48-year-old chief selector of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) doesnt believe that he erred by not consulting the national captain Mushfiqur Rahim before announcing the squad for the Asia Cup. The captain has expressed his shock at not being consulted by the chief selector and said that certain inclusions and exclusions have been made in the team without his knowledge. Faruk, with other national selector Habibul Bashar, is in India for two reasons - firstly to see his ailing sister and secondly to play for Dhaka Club against CCFC (Calcutta Cricket and Football Club). Speaking exclusively over telephone from his hotel room, Faruk said, Yes, the captain was not consulted for the composition of the team but we had already discussed the team with head coach (Shane Jurgensen) and
physio (Vibhav Singh) before announcing the 15 members. Even the coach was present in the selection committee meeting, he said. When we discussed the team with the head-coach it was assumed that the coach has brought the feedback from the captain. It is not mandatory for us, rather me, as a chairman of the National Selection Panel, to discuss separately with the coach and captain, he further added. Mushfiqur Rahim is a good captain and we have retained him till next years World Cup. On my return to Bangladesh today, I shall certainly speak to him about his so-called outburst but there is no question of compromise. The BCB has no policy to make captain the part of the selection committee meeting though we do speak to him on a regular basis, said Faruk. Faruk Ahmed and Bashar were scheduled to leave for Bangladesh yesterday evening. l
PRELIM SQUAD
GoalKeepers- Biplob Bhattyacharya, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Mazharul Islam Himel, Mamun Khan Defenders- Raihan Hasan, Md. Linkon, Tapu Barman, Nasir Uddin Chowdhry, Didarul Haque, Yeasin Khan,Atikur Rahman Meshu, Yamin Ahmed Chowdhury, Tutul Hossain Badsha Midfielders- Jamal Bhuiyan, Mobarak Hossain, Zahid Hossain, Rubel Mia, Mamunul Islam, Sohel Rana, Shahedul Alam, Imon Mahmud, Hemanta Vincent, Jewel Rana, Towhidul Alam Forwards- Toklis Ahmed, Jahid Hasan Emily, Aminur Rahaman, Mithun Chowdhury
nament. The series against Sri Lanka was not a good one for us for which it is important for us to regroup and gain the confidence. I will request the fans and the media to keep less pressure on the team, said Tamim. Tamim thinks that the weight of expectation caused the Tigers to perform badly against Sri Lanka and added, Everyone wants Bangladesh to perform and we also want to play well. I believe Bangladesh will perform well in the Asia Cup. This is important as there is another big event (ICC World Twenty20) after this. l
14
Van Gaal open to Spurs approach
Louis van Gaal has said he would consider joining Tottenham Hotspur once his contract with the Dutch national team finishes after this years World Cup in Brazil. The 62-year-old, who has coached Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, was linked to the Premier League club when Andre Villas-Boas was sacked in December. Spurs eventually appointed youth development manager Tim Sherwood on an 18-month contract, but the Dutchman said he was still interested in the job. Reuters
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie (R) and midfielders Marouane Fellaini (C) and midfielder Ryan Giggs (L) take part in a training session at their Carrington complex in Manchester, north west England, yesterday ahead of the UEFA Champions League football match against Olympiakos today AFP
Pardew compares Tevez gives Juve derby win Remy to Cruyff and Sampdoria were also fuming after n Reuters, Rome n Reuters, Madrid losing 2-0 at home to AC Milan and InBergkamp Carlos Tevez scored a stun- ter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri joined Atletico Madrids La Liga the chorus of discontent after his team ning goal as Serie A leaders title challenge took a noseReuters n were held 1-1 at home by lowly Cagliari. Juventus beat Torino 1-0 dive when they slumped to
Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew compared striker Loic Remy to Dutch greats Johan Cruyff and Dennis Bergkamp after his injury-time winner earned a much-needed 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday. The 27-year-old, who is on loan from Queens Park Rangers, took his Premier League tally this season to 12 goals on his return from a three-match ban. Somebody just said to me the game seemed a little bit slower when he was on the ball and I think when you get a quality player thats what they can do, Pardew told reporters. Players like Cruyff and Bergkamp, they can slow the game down and he can do that. Hes going to be hot property, hes going to get a lot of press tomorrow. I was a little happier after Loics goal went in than I was before, he added. It was a strange game and I was beginning to wonder. I think weve had a decent season. The recent bad run has put pressure on my staff and my team. I dont feel comfortable with that, my staff being under pressure, said Pardew. You can be very resilient as a manager but I was desperate to get a result for my team and our fans who have had to be very patient. Weve not been very good at home since beating Stoke on Boxing Day but the win will settle us down. l on Sunday to continue an extraordinary dominance of their neighbours. Torino, who have not scored in the last 10 meetings with Juventus and have failed to beat their rivals since 1995, were furious at having a late penalty appeal turned down while the hosts notched their 13th straight home win in the league this season. Juves win kept them nine points clear of AS Roma, who won 1-0 at Bologna on Saturday, and on course for a third successive title. Juve have 66 points with Roma on 57 and Napoli a further seven back in third. Tevez scored the only goal on the half hour when the Argentine brilliantly controlled Kwadwo Asamoahs pass and fired a low shot into the net on the turn. Torino were by no means outplayed and believed they should have had a penalty when Omar El Kaddouri appeared to be tripped by Andrea Pirlo 10 minutes from time. l
RESULTS
Rayo Vallecano Real Betis
0 1
Coke 57
Sevilla
RESULTS
Juventus
Tevez 30
0 2 2 1 3 0
Athletic Bilbao
1 0 3 2
Torino Sassuolo
Valencia
Granada
Piti 47
Lazio
Osasuna
Atletico Madrid
n Reuters
Juventus' Argentine forward Carlos Tevez celebrates after scoring against Torino during the Italian Serie A match at Juventus Stadium in Turin on Sunday AFP
Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was briefly upset with Bayern Munich team mate Arjen Robben when the Dutch winger failed to pass to him during Sundays 4-0 win at Hanover 96. When I went off I was upset Robben didnt give me the ball when I ran behind him, Schweinsteiger told Sky Sports Deutschland, laughing off the incident. At this age I dont run as much but Im not the first not to get the ball when chasing Arjen. l
GD 28 25 42 35 3 12 10 -5 6 -3 -2 -4
PTS 60 59 57 56 50 45 45 40 39 31 30 28 28 28 27 26 25 24 22 21
26 18
9 Southampton 27 10
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
Bangladesh Football Federation nominated five football personalities for the National Sports Award 2013 from their part in an Emergency Committee meeting at the BFF House yesterday. The names will be sent to the National Sports Council who will pick the winner. BFF selected Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, the BFF executive committee member and football organiser, former national footballers Elias Hossain and Jewel Rana, organisers Fazlur Rahman Babul and Monjur Kader for the highest sports award of the country. RM
Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi (R) and his teammates walk during their practice session at the SBNS yesterday
MUMIT M
with very little experience against the Asian teams, Nabi hoped to give them a tough time and also look for a win when possible. Its a very good feeling to play against big teams. We played against India and Pakistan in big events like World Cup and against Pakistan we played T20 and ODI in Sharjah. That was a very good experience at that time, may be they know how Afghanistan plays and we hope to give them a tough time, he said. The 29-year-old was confident of his teammates and also indicated youngster Najeeb Zadran as their rising star. We have a new talent from U-19, Najeeb Zadran. A good talent and a young guy andhe already performed against Pakistan in T20.I hope he will perform here as well, said the skipper. l
National cricketers Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim flanked by GP officials share a light moment during the brand ambassador signing ceremony yesterday COURTESY
BFF SVP Abdus Salam Murshedy speaks in the press conference of the Premier Bank BCL at the BFF House yesterday COURTESY Murshedy, the senior vice president of BFF, lauded Premier Bank for the sponsorship and said, Premier Banks assistance will definitely add pace in the development process of the game in the country, we are thankful to them. Dewan Anwarul Latif, the DMD of the Premier Bank hoped football will proceed by meeting the demand of time and Bangladesh will enjoy a better future in the football arena. BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag, executive committee member Harunur Rashid, professional league committee member Abdur Rahim, Premier Bank officials Md Imtiazuddin and Syed Nawsher Ali were also present on the occasion. l
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six 7:00AM NBA 2013 14 New Orleans v LA Clippers Channel 9 & Star Sports 1 2:00PM Arise Asia Cup 2014 Pakistan v Sri Lanka Star Sports 4 AFC Champions League 1:30PM Shandong Luneng v Buriram United 4:00PM Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Beijing Guoan Ten Sports 4:00PM Dubai Tennis Championships Ten Action Uefa Champions League, R16 Leg1 10:00PM Zenit St Petersburg v Dortmund 1:00AM Olympiakos v Man United
Walton additional director AFM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn hands over the sponsorship money to BWF general secretary Wing Com. Mohiuddin Ahmed yesterday COURTESY
High Commissioner of United Kingdom HE Robert, W Gibson, ABM Ruhul Azad, director (Training), BKSP, Shamima Sattar Mimu, deputy director (Training), BKSP, Bayzid Zubair Alam Nipu, technical director of Bangladesh Football Federation, Faridur Reza Sagor, managing director Channel i, Rajnish Kaul, chief operating officer, Airtel Bangladesh Limited, and Mir Nawbut Ali, head of marketing, pose with the Rising Stars at BKSP yesterday COURTESY
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
ROAD DEVELOPMENT
38
n Ahmed Zayeef
As this years Amar Ekushey Book Fair is nearing its end, book lovers seem to be in a rush to grab as many books as possible. Like in previous days, yesterday also saw the fair packed with visitors. This time however, more readers were actually making purchases, as opposed to merely browsing through their favourite titles. Many of the bibliophiles came to the fair solely to buy books, on the 24th day of the fair, after spending previous visits browsing through the book and price lists. Although I had visited the fair many
times during the first three weeks, I did not buy that many books. After going through the newspapers and collecting pamphlets of different publishing houses, I made a list of my own. That is how I usually buy books, said Natasha Abedin, faculty member of a private university. Another visitor, Giasuddin Mahmud, was also seen checking through his own personal list. He said: After going through a number of pamphlets distributed by publishers, I have made own personal list of 17 books. I am now simply going to buy them all. It is difficult to carry all the books in one go, so Ive come to the fair multiple times, which makes it all the more fun for me, he added. Publishers opined that readers thronging the fair during the last days and making bigger purchases has become a common phenomenon. Tofazzol Hossain, another reader who was visiting for the fifth time, was found
instructing two children carrying sacks of books. He said: I have bought books worth around Tk12,000 for a social library. I usually do it every year, after deciding on which books would match the interest of my readers. I prefer to buy books during the last days as it helps me to get all the information sorted on newly published books. A total of 98 new books arrived at the fair yesterday. Syed Shamsul Haques Chompaboti and Golposhomogro 4 from Charulipi Prokashon, Gaji Azizur Rahmans Shahitte Shomaj Bastobotar Dhara from Merit Fair Prokashon, Binoy Mojumdars Dhushor Jibonanondo from Kobi Prokashoni are mention worthy. A total of 38 new books were unveiled at Nazrul mancha. A discussion titled Bankim Chandra: Pinjorer Boyan was held at the central stage where Professor Masuduzzaman presented the key note paper. l
Chhatra League posters BJP strongly opposes convey wrong history LBA with Bangladesh
n Ahmed Zayeef
Ruling Awami Leagues student front Chhatra League has recently published two posters that depicted history wrongly about the death of three of its leaders 1980s and 1990s. The posters, depicting late student leaders Md Delwar Hossain and HM Ibrahim, could be seen on the walls of the Modhur Canteen, TSC, Arts building , Social Science Faculty and Karjon Hall inside the campus. The posters show they died on 28 February, 1948, during the movement for education policy. But on the same poster say it was 30th death anniversary. In the other poster, tribute was paid to former Shohidul Haque Chunnu, who died on February 25, 1990 in a clash between Chhatra League and Chhatra Dal. The poster wrongly claimed that BNP was in power at that time. According to the Daily Ittefaq, Md Delwer and Ibrahim died on February 28, 1984 while they were attending a
national council meeting alleged that China was trying to create an anti-India atmosphere in the neighbourhood. And its not just Pakistan that is under Chinas influence, but anti-India elements have become active in countries like Bhutan, he said. He also alleged that Washington ignored New Delhis view on Bangladesh issue. The US has sought Pakistans views on Bangladesh while completely ignoring Indias interest. This is highly objectionable, Rajnath said. In an interview with the Hindu newspaper last December, Salman Khurshid said: There were obviously some differences of perception [with
procession near Fulbaria Bus Terminal. Shohidul Haque Chunnu died on 25 February, 1990 when General H M Ershad was in the state-power. Shahrukh Miraj, publicity secretary of central BCL agreed that wrong information in the posters triggered controversy. l
The BJP resolution blamed that massive Bangladeshi infiltration was the main reason behind recurring violence in Assam
respect to Bangladesh] that I noticed last time I was there [Washington], particularly in the dealing of the present government with some of their own internal institutions. Salman said: While the US is at some distance from Bangladesh, we are right next to it. So, our understanding of the region and understanding of sentiments of the people in the region should be helpful in the positions they want to take. The BJP president at the council meeting congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on again forming the government. [He] expects her to display the same promptness in protecting minority communities and their places of worship that she showed in dealing with the extremist elements. However, BJP leader of the opposition in Rajyasabha Arun Jaitly in a statement just after the January 5 election said: India, which has thousands of kilometres of borders with Bangladesh, would like to see a peaceful poll accompanied by continuation or transfer of power. It has not happened. We hope that the political process in Bangladesh stabilises and important political parties are in a position to settle their domestic political issues. l
Three acid survivors attend a conference organised by Acid Survivors Foundation at BICC in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN 0.05% of the total budget in this regard. Psychosocial and mental health are vital requiring proper care that must be provided for the sufferers along with other care. Pointing out that most acid survivors are faced with social stigma which works against their life and livelihood, Runa Liala, an acid survivor, said: We are not allowed to go to any social programme like wedding ceremony because everybody looks down upon us, not the acid throwers. Despite being a victim of acid violence we are treated as ominous, but not those who threw acid on us, she
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093 94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
Business
B3 Bajaj to launch
B4 Nokia succumbs to
A figure dressed as fire fighter stands while a man looks on at a stall in the fire and bilding safety fair in Dhaka yesterday
Freight forwarders Mobile World Congress calls for bringing allowed to open FC all services under one platform account in the GSMA14, which proves that the dominate the other areas. Muhammad Zahidul Islam n Tribune Report But, voice is dying day by day, industry has the hunger for further adAmu asks agencies at tannery relocation meeting n from Barcelona, Spain said Abdul Karim sharing a data which vancement, he added. Shipping lines, air lines and multiEarlier, mobile congress organisers in- showed that an user with a Smartallocated fund of Tk250 crore as com- The GSMA Mobile World Congress, the modal transport operators licenced n Abu Bakar Siddique pensation after starting the relocation. as freight forwarders by customs aubiggest annual telecom event of the formed that a world-class thought-lead- phone uses data of 25 minutes roughly
thorities can now open and maintain foreign currency accounts to facilitate their payments related to transportation of cargo to and from Bangladesh. The accounts can be opened in US dollar or other freely convertible currencies with the authorised dealer banks in Bangladesh, in which their receipts in foreign currency against their handling of FOB (freight on board) export cargos from Bangladesh to be credited. Funds from these accounts will be usable in foreign currency for payments abroad towards costs and charges relating to their handling of FOB imports into Bangladesh, according to a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday. The new decision takes immediate effect. For FOB imports the AD banks may, at request of their importer clients, make payments of freight charges in Taka or in equivalent foreign exchange to shipping lines, air lines and eligible licensed freight forwarders out of the total value of the LCAF issued for the import covering costs of goods and freight. The receipts in foreign exchange will be used through the foreign currency accounts maintained by the
B3 COLUMN 5
After remaining suspended for a decade due to disagreements between the authorities and tannery owners over bearing the cost of the tannery relocation, the BSCIC, Bangladesh Tanners Association (BTA) and Bangladesh Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters Association (BFLGFEA) recently signed an agreement to expedite the work. The tanners said they would start factory relocation works within one month. Of them, primarily 25% of the total factories will be shifted and the rest will shifted gradually. Owing to the long delay, the tannery relocation cost now doubled to stand at Tk1,079 crore, a sharp increase from the first revised project proposal worth more than Tk550 crore taken in October 2007. The government, which initiated the tannery relocation move in 2003, deviated from its original plan and imposed the relocation expense on the owners under a loan agreement over 15 years, after the CETP is installed. The government signed an agreement with the CETP provider company in 2012 which was supposed to finish the work by September 17 of 2013 and
B3 COLUMN 5
globe, kicked off in Barcelona, Spain yesterday with a call for bringing the service and the telecommunication sector under a same platform for the sake of their mutual interest. The collaboration of the service and the communication sectors will be the key for the overall advancement in the coming days, which the industry people should put their effort for, said aid GSMA Chairman Jon Fredrik Baksaas while inaugurating the GSMA Mobile Congress 2014. Billions of people are now availing the internet facilities across the world and the number is increasing exponentially. At this point, we need to join hands together to create an atmosphere congenial for harmonising the service and the communication sectors, said Baksas, who is also the Presidnet of Telenor, parent company of the Bangladeshs leading mobile operator Grameenphone. Collaboration is required between the mobile operators, handsets providers, system providers and different service providers in the entire eco-system that will drive us for reaching our common goal. 80,000 participants are attending
ership conference featuring visionary keynotes and panel discussions will also take place during the event.
'The collaboration of the service and the communication sectors will be the key for the overall advancement in the coming days, which the industry people should put their effort for'
Addressing the opening ceremony, the GSMA Director General Anne Bouverot said, The mobile companies, vendors and other businesses across the globe are attending the event, which will help them in networking in the coming days. CEO of Etisalat Ahmad Abdul Karim Julfar, said, Voice service of our network is currently holding the fifth position while internet, entertainments
every day against the voice uses of only 12 minutes. Daniel Hajj, chief executive officer of America Movil, a leading mobile operator in South America, has opined that it is a must to have a proper eco-system to deliver proper services to the customers. Panelists of the session said, facebook can offer free services but it would be harmful for them if facebook and Whatsapp jointly offered such a free service. Recently facebook authority has bought whatsapp at a cost of US$19bn. Both Mark Zuckerburg, the founder and CEO of Facebook and WhatsApp boss are participating the event. Telecommunication and ICT minister Abdul Latif Siddique is leading a seven-member delegation from Bangladesh to the annual gala event. Among others, the delegation includes Post and Telecommunication division secretary Md Abubakar Siddique, ICT division secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose. Nazrul Islam Khan and Sunil Kanti Bose will participate at two different sessions as panelists. l
shipment to discounting and collecting invoices, across more than 60 countries. James is focused on ensuring that HSBCs trade and receivables experts work with colleagues across the world, to help customers to make the most of opportunities across both established and emerging trade corridors. l
B2
Stocks back to black with higher turnover
n Tribune Report
Stocks closed higher yesterday, after a day of profit-booking, driven by telecommunications, financials and mutual funds. The benchmark DSEX index gained 24 points or 0.6% to end at 4,751. Shariah DSES index rose 6 points or 0.7% to 991.The blue-chip comprising DS30 index ended at 1,686 with a rise of 19 points or 1%. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, soared 78 points to close at 9,351. Participation in trading improved as the total market turnover stood at Tk527 crore, which was 25% higher over the previous session. Currently, market has been tightly trading between a strong support and resistance which is signaled by a sideways movement of index, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis. Rise in market turnover indicates that investors are herding on the DSE making higher turnover value, it said. Financial stocks and mutual funds were mostly in buyers interest. All other sectors closed positive except power and cement which ended flat. Telecommunication was the market mover as the sector posted the highest gain of 2.3%, led by heavy weight Grameenphone. Among the major sectors, pharmaceuticals, engineering, financial institutions were the best performers. IDLC Investment said having a correction in previous session, bargain hunters snuck in, pushing market back on track. Volatility remained vigilant, especially in micro cap and large cap scrips, it said. It said 32 scrips posted more than 4% movements, demonstrating scrip-wise swings and surge in fresh funds pulled up turnover above Tk500 crore after six sessions. Zenith Investment said buyers seem to be back in control, after previous sessions shallow pullback of the index. The market continues acting well with high turnover volume. Despite some mixed performance in the middle of the trading day, the buying pressure from traders weighed heavily which ultimately lifted the sectors. Olympic Industries was the most traded stocks worth Tk37 crore, followed by Square Pharmaceuticals, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Lanka Bangla Finance, Singer BD, Generation Next and Meghan Petroleum. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.91 9.59 9.39 8.52 7.67 7.45 7.22 6.44 6.16 6.05
Al-Haj Textile -A Mithun Knitting -A Beach Hatchery -A Eastern Cables-Z Prime Finance-A BSC A Eastern Lubricants -A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Samorita Hospital -A Miracle Industries -B CSE GAINERS Company Eastern Cables-Z Mithun Knitting -A Popular Life Insu. -A Beach Hatchery -A BSC A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Prime Finance-A ACI ZERO Bond-A Bay Leasing.-A Miracle Industries -B
Average (% change) 11.18 7.25 5.03 8.46 5.94 4.69 4.83 4.20 3.79 2.41 Average (% change) 9.94 7.51 8.74 4.50 5.09 4.57 6.07 4.88 2.82 2.89
Closing average 109.77 90.11 29.66 123.99 30.68 607.73 347.00 55.36 93.67 22.49
Closing 110.90 92.60 30.30 124.80 30.90 627.50 354.90 56.20 94.80 22.80
Daily high 110.90 92.90 30.40 126.20 31.10 627.75 356.20 56.60 95.00 23.00
Daily low 91.00 78.00 25.00 108.00 27.00 570.00 339.90 47.60 88.00 20.00
Turnover in million 18.058 111.027 56.811 5.920 70.748 240.185 1.388 68.393 10.132 5.039
Latest EPS 2.06 2.42 0.79 1.40 0.75 24.00 6.02 2.42 2.74 0.22
Latest PE 53.3 37.2 37.5 88.6 40.9 25.3 57.6 22.9 34.2 102.2
Closing (% change) 9.96 9.43 8.74 8.27 7.44 7.37 6.90 4.85 4.84 4.63
Closing average 124.66 91.17 250.10 29.52 609.96 55.35 30.77 930.13 38.65 22.42
Closing 124.70 92.80 250.10 30.10 628.50 56.80 31.00 930.00 39.00 22.60
Daily high 124.70 93.20 250.10 30.30 628.80 57.40 31.30 935.00 39.00 23.10
Daily low 123.00 85.40 250.10 27.60 573.00 54.00 29.50 920.50 38.00 22.00
Turnover in million 0.748 4.537 0.125 19.279 49.654 5.234 12.292 0.007 1.433 0.649
Latest EPS 1.40 2.42 17.00 0.79 24.00 2.42 0.75 0.00 1.56 0.22
Latest PE 89.0 37.7 14.7 37.4 25.4 22.9 41.0 24.8 101.9
(+) 0.51% (+) 0.67% (+) 1.14% (+) 0.50% (+) 0.66% (+) 0.65%
Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
Peoples Insur -A
-2.80
Average (% change) -6.61 -4.91 -5.70 -1.62 -3.62 -3.41 -1.13 -3.31 -4.31
Closing average 175.10 39.35 20.52 66.72 28.51 313.86 6.14 34.78 67.71
Closing 175.10 38.90 20.40 64.60 28.20 314.00 6.00 34.40 67.00
Daily high 175.10 41.50 21.60 69.40 29.40 320.00 6.30 36.20 69.50
Daily low 175.10 38.50 20.10 63.00 28.00 305.00 6.00 34.40 66.10
Turnover in million 0.070 88.862 0.196 6.438 6.985 1.275 1.056 5.287 72.378
Latest EPS 21.32 1.63 0.59 -1.00 0.64 7.88 0.60 1.56 1.53
Latest PE 8.2 24.1 34.8 -ve 44.5 39.8 10.2 22.3 44.3
-2.01
35.08
34.70
36.00
33.00
2.214
2.20
15.9
CSE LOSERS Company Kay & Que (BD) -Z LafargeS Cement-Z Rupali Life Insur.-A Rahima Food -Z I P D C -A Northern G Insur-A AFC AgroBiotech-N Samata LeatheR -Z IFIL Islamic M.F.1 A Closing (% change) -9.05 -5.11 -4.29 -3.76 -3.64 -3.53 -3.18 -2.95 -2.94
S. Alam CR Steel -A
-2.74
Average (% change) -9.30 -4.38 -4.29 -0.45 -3.64 -3.65 -4.32 -2.95 -4.18
Closing average 18.05 39.33 100.50 66.20 21.20 49.14 67.59 23.00 6.65
Closing 18.10 39.00 100.50 64.00 21.20 49.20 67.00 23.00 6.60
Daily high 18.10 41.10 100.50 68.50 21.30 49.50 69.80 23.00 6.80
Daily low 18.00 38.60 100.50 64.00 21.10 48.30 66.50 23.00 6.60
Turnover in million 0.018 7.590 0.050 0.166 0.170 0.123 12.032 0.023 0.123
Latest EPS -0.89 1.63 5.33 -1.00 0.91 3.04 1.53 -0.04 0.88
Latest PE -ve 24.1 18.9 -ve 23.3 16.2 44.2 -ve 7.6
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A Olympic Ind. -A BSC A BD Submarine Cable-A LankaBangla Fin. -A Singer BD -A
Prime Bank-A
-1.87
39.35
39.00
39.70
39.00
0.944
1.16
33.9
ANALYST
Currently, market has been tightly trading between a strong support and resistance which is signaled by a sideways movement of index
DSE Million Taka 508.57 502.02 121.20 547.22 573.28 474.42 9.37 565.07 696.88 0.77 30.56 74.96 15.31 185.13 42.05 77.37 208.39 279.28 51.56 309.86 0.39
% change 9.64 9.52 2.30 10.38 10.87 9.00 0.18 10.71 13.21 0.01 0.58 1.42 0.29 3.51 0.80 1.47 3.95 5.30 0.98 5.88 0.01
Million Taka 51.59 54.12 6.39 42.16 38.83 32.47 42.94 41.07 0.13 1.88 7.46 3.83 13.58 6.67 2.67 7.51 53.19 6.24 59.51 0.03
CSE
% change 10.92 11.46 1.35 8.93 8.22 6.87 0.00 9.09 8.70 0.03 0.40 1.58 0.81 2.87 1.41 0.56 1.59 11.26 1.32 12.60 0.01
Million Taka 560.16 556.14 127.59 589.37 612.11 506.89 9.37 608.01 737.95 0.90 32.44 82.43 19.14 198.70 48.72 80.03 215.90 332.47 57.80 369.37 0.42
Total
% change 9.75 9.68 2.22 10.26 10.65 8.82 0.16 10.58 12.84 0.02 0.56 1.43 0.33 3.46 0.85 1.39 3.76 5.79 1.01 6.43 0.01
Mithun Knitting -A Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z Jamuna Oil -A AFC AgroBiotech-N Prime Finance-A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Delta Life Insu. -A Beach Hatchery -A Active Fine Chem.-A
1,232,061 462,200 2,258,000 351,978 1,069,000 2,305,851 1,235,430 222,800 1,915,450 570,661
Volume shares
Volume shares 1,434,683 1,772,393 395,215 851,789 2,277,502 643,934 6,197,094 5,074,860 488,566 1,403,590
Value in million 372.17 371.83 240.19 183.88 166.02 152.65 151.84 151.10 137.66 113.67
111.03 95.40 88.86 80.97 72.38 70.75 68.39 59.46 56.81 53.01
% of total turnover 7.06 7.05 4.55 3.49 3.15 2.89 2.88 2.87 2.61 2.16
2.11 1.81 1.69 1.54 1.37 1.34 1.30 1.13 1.08 1.01
Daily closing 263.10 213.70 627.50 219.70 73.90 239.60 24.60 29.60 282.20 80.80
92.60 207.90 38.90 231.10 67.00 30.90 56.20 266.30 30.30 93.00
Price change 3.18 4.19 7.45 2.90 3.21 1.14 0.82 -1.33 0.89 0.25
9.59 2.21 -5.81 0.87 -2.90 7.67 6.44 0.11 9.39 -0.43
Daily opening 255.00 205.10 584.00 213.50 71.60 236.90 24.40 30.00 279.70 80.60
84.50 203.40 41.30 229.10 69.00 28.70 52.80 266.00 27.70 93.40
92.90 208.50 41.50 231.90 69.50 31.10 56.60 268.80 30.40 94.00
Daily high
Daily high 265.00 214.90 627.75 229.00 74.60 240.40 24.70 30.30 285.00 83.70
78.00 203.80 38.50 215.00 66.10 27.00 47.60 265.50 25.00 85.00
Daily low
Daily low 235.00 188.00 570.00 196.00 65.00 224.00 22.00 27.00 270.00 73.00
Daily average 259.41 209.79 607.73 215.87 72.90 237.06 24.50 29.77 281.75 80.98
90.11 206.41 39.35 230.05 67.71 30.68 55.36 266.89 29.66 92.88
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
BD Submarine Cable-A Beach Hatchery -A UCBL - A LankaBangla Fin. -A G Next Fashions-A Grameenphone-A Prime Finance-A AFC AgroBiotech-N Square Pharma -A IDLC Finance -A Olympic Ind. -A Singer BD -A Appollo Ispat CL -N LafargeS Cement-Z aamra technologies-A GPH Ispat Ltd-A UNITED AIR A Padma Oil Co. -A Meghna Petroleum -A
81,405 186,155 653,056 615,455 196,500 444,720 61,800 399,484 178,000 45,247 122,577 45,635 37,162 280,800 193,000 140,125 94,560 325,860 15,400 17,060
Value in million
49.65 40.44 19.28 17.36 14.34 13.24 12.75 12.29 12.03 11.70 10.08 9.61 8.81 8.79 7.59 5.59 5.23 5.09 5.06 4.81
% of total turnover
10.51 8.56 4.08 3.68 3.04 2.80 2.70 2.60 2.55 2.48 2.13 2.04 1.87 1.86 1.61 1.18 1.11 1.08 1.07 1.02
Daily closing
628.50 219.70 30.10 28.40 73.60 29.60 207.30 31.00 67.00 263.30 82.30 213.40 239.80 31.20 39.00 40.00 56.80 15.60 331.40 282.00
Price change
7.44 2.66 8.27 1.43 2.79 -1.33 2.37 6.90 -3.18 3.13 0.24 4.00 0.33 -1.27 -5.11 0.00 7.37 -0.64 0.98 0.79
Daily opening
585.00 214.00 27.80 28.00 71.60 30.00 202.50 29.00 69.20 255.30 82.10 205.20 239.00 31.60 41.10 40.00 52.90 15.70 328.20 279.80
628.80 221.00 30.30 29.00 74.30 30.20 208.00 31.30 69.80 264.20 84.40 215.00 240.00 31.90 41.10 40.50 57.40 15.80 333.00 283.00
573.00 211.50 27.60 26.00 71.60 29.30 203.00 29.50 66.50 253.00 80.30 205.00 233.70 31.10 38.60 36.00 54.00 14.50 326.00 279.10
Daily average
609.96 217.25 29.52 28.21 72.98 29.78 206.24 30.77 67.59 258.65 82.19 210.59 237.04 31.31 39.33 39.90 55.35 15.61 328.80 281.71
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
Reuters, Mumbai
Its got four wheels and seatbelts, but Bajaj Auto, the creator of Indias first quadricycle, would rather you didnt call it a car. Bajaj Auto is marketing the RE60 as a more stable and comfortable alternative to the three-wheeled autorickshaws ubiquitous on Indias roads even though it looks like a small hatchback car and is expected to cost less. Weight, top speed and other specifications, including safety standards, mean the RE60 will not be classified as a car. But that didnt stop executives from top automakers such as Tata Motors from comparing it to a car and finding its safety features come up short. Rajiv Bajaj, the companys managing director, insists the RE60 is neither a car nor an autorickshaw. The government is even creating a new classification category for the vehicle, which is expected to be launched within months. In every market that a three-wheeler is available the quadricycle should be relevant, Bajaj told Reuters in a phone interview. Because at the end of the day it provides a very logical upgrade from a three-wheeler for people who want to pay a little more and want to have the
B3
35% increase a year earlier. Exports of motorbikes and autorickshaws account for more than a third of Bajajs sales. The company counts Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, TVS Motor Company Ltd and Italys Piaggio as competitors in the three-wheeler segment.
IBFB members to get Bajaj to launch four-wheel vehicle but its not a car n US visa preference
n Tribune Report
The members of International Business Forum of Bangladesh (IBFB) will get some preferences and facilities to apply for and to obtain the US visa. The US Consul General in Bangladesh Jemmy B. Fouss has disclosed that the IBFB members will get some preferences and facilities to apply for and obtain the US visa, says a IBFB press statement released yesterday. According to the statement, the US Consul also declared that IBFB members, who applied through proper channel, will get appointment for visa from the US Embassy within 2 days of their submission of application. In addition, any IBFB member having US visa from January 2008 and onward will get special facilities to renew their visas within 3 days, reads the statement. The US Consul General was addressing a seminar titled How to apply and obtain US Visa organised by IBFB Chittagong Chapter on 20th February 2014 at Hotel Agrabad in Chittagong. Speaking as chief guest, Jemmy B. Fouss put emphasis on increased bilateral relations especially in the areas of development partnership, trade and business between the two countries. He also noted that the US exports to Bangladesh has increased 44% in 2013 compared to the previous year, and application for non-immigrant US visa has also remarkably been increased over the years. Regarding the visa procedures, he clarified that if a non-immigrant visa applicant can guarantee to return home from USA, it becomes easier for them to obtain the US visa. In this context, he further said the US government has made the US visa process much easier than before. A consular officer from the US Embassy in Dhaka briefed the participants on different types of US visa, application procedures, required documentations and related issues. The seminar presided over by the Engr. Sakhawat Hossain, was addressed, among others, by chairperson of IBFB Chittagong Chapter and Managing Director of Western Marine Services Ltd. Dr Md Omar Shafayat Kausar, and IBFB Vice-President Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury. l
comfort and safety of four wheels, four doors, a roof and seatbelts, he said. In India, autorickshaws typically have no doors and a soft roof. The vehicles are usually turned into taxis and known in many countries as tuk-tuks. The RE60 is part of a long-term expansion strategy by Bajaj to boost sales growth at home and abroad. The company is the worlds largest autorickshaw maker and Indias second
largest motorcycle maker, and sales of both these vehicles have decelerated over the last two years, hit by falling demand in a slowing economy. Bajajs three-wheeler sales fell 6% in the 2012/13 financial year compared to a 17% increase in the previous year and a 28% rise in 2010/11. Motorcycle sales also showed a similar trend: they fell 2% in 2012/13 compared to a 13.2% gain in 2011/12 and a
The RE60 weighs 400 kilograms (880 pounds), about 100 kg more than Bajajs smallest autorickshaw and half as much as a small hatchback. The engine, which can run on gasoline or compressed natural gas, goes up to 70 kilometres per hour (about 40 miles per hour). The vehicle is likely to be priced between an autorickshaw and a small car. Analysts expect the RE60 to cost 200,000 rupees, more than the roughly 150,000 rupees for the most basic Bajaj three-wheeler but less than the 270,000 rupees for Indias bestselling car, the Maruti Alto hatchback. Bajaj spent 5.5bn rupees developing the vehicle, according to media reports. The company can initially make up to 5,000 vehicles a month and has been waiting for two years to get them on Indias roads. l
BWCCI demands trouble-free credits for women entrepreneurs n Reuters, Sydney n Tribune report The Group of 20s proposal to lift ecoThe leaders of Bangladesh Womans Chamber of Commerce and Industries (BWCCI) have demanded trouble-free credit flow for the women entrepreneurs across the country. Accusing the commercial banks for not providing necessary credits to the women entrepreneurs, the BWCCI leaders yesterday came up with the demand at a meeting with the state minister for finance MA Mannan held at finance division auditorium. Among others, BWCCI president Sangita Ahmed, former president of BWCCI Selina Hossain, and owner of Shama shops Shafia Shama attended the meeting. Some of the commercial banks are reluctant to give loans to the real women entrepreneurs soon after they provide loans only two or three entrepreneurs, Shama Shafia alleged to the state minister. l
shipping lines, air lines and eligible licenced freight forwarders. Shipping lines and air lines may accept freight charges on FOB exports in foreign currencies from the eligible licenced freight forwarders. In such cases, the shipping lines and air lines will themselves submit necessary encashment certificates with routine monthly returns to Bangladesh Bank. The banks will inform Foreign Exchange Operation Department (FEOD) at head office, or relevant area office of Bangladesh Bank immediately (by the next business day) as and when each such foreign currency account is opened. All receipts and payments transac-
tions through these accounts will have to be included in the monthly collection and disbursement statements routinely submitted to Bangladesh Bank by shipping lines/air lines through their banks. Eligible licenced freight forwarders shall, through banks, also submit monthly statements to Bangladesh Bank of collections and disbursements against the handling of FOB exports and imports. Transaction statements of these foreign currency accounts will also have to be submitted to Bangladesh Bank on a quarterly basis for post facto checking to satisfy that reasonable amounts from the foreign currency accounts have been encashed to Taka towards defraying of local costs and tax liabilities. l
it has also received another time extension for the work till January 06 of the year. SN Paul, deputy general manager of the leather estate said they would extend the time frame for CETP establishment and tannery relocation within a few days for the last time. More than 200 factories in Hazaribagh release several thousand liters of untreated and highly toxic liquid waste into the Buriganga River, posing a serious threat to the public health.
The Department of Environment reported that some 22,000 cubic meters of raw and liquid waste from tannery units in Hazaribagh flow into the Buriganga, where the oxygen level is zero instead of the minimum six required for aquatic species. In addition to environmental hazards, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju reminded the tanners that export of leather goods might be stopped in the Europe Union market from December this year unless the environment issue is not taken into account. l
Long list
Lowering barriers to trade is another much-touted reform, but the seemingly never-ending talks on the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) show how
and untrained workers are the top three challenges behind ensuring the safety in the countrys readymade garment sector, according to the survey. The survey suggested three remedial measures. To train the managers and workers, and increase external monitoring are on top of the remedial measures identified by the survey, M Rabin, managing director of the Alliance told a post-expo press briefing at a city hotel in Dhaka yesterday. Protecting the safety of Bangladesh factory workers means we all have a role to play, he said. That is why we are pleased to be working so closely with our partners on the ground to ensure factory safety improvements will be swift, integrated and sustainable over the long-term. The participants expected the expo
would find solutions for the fire and building safety challenges to contribute to improve safety in RMG factories, the survey found. Replying to a question, the Accord Executive Director Rob Wayss said they have got some complains over the withdrawal of orders by some big buyers from the factories located at shared or rented buildings. He assured that the Accord will look into the issue. Regarding the standards, the Accord ED said the standards are set in a harmonised way with consultation with the Alliance and law of the land, but there are some additional requirements like sprinkler. BGMEA President Atiqul Islam said the expo measure of success included its ability to provide safe conditions for workers, and it is our hope that this expo will help achieve that. l
Super Fresh Drinking Water is sponsoring in the Asia Cup 2013 as the official drinking partner. A signing ceremony on this regard was held last Sunday among Meghna Group of Industries and Techfront International FZE at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. Mostafa Kamal, chairperson and managing director of Meghna Group of Industries and high officials of Techfront International FZE were present at the ceremony
Jamuna Bank Foundation recently organised a seminar on International Mother Language Day at its bank branch in Comilla. Kanutosh Majumder, chairperson of Jamuna Bank Limited was present in the seminar as chief guest
Delta Brac Housing and Finance Corporation Ltd. (DBH) has been rated AAA (Triple A), topmost of the rating scale for long term and ST 1 for short term for the eighth consecutive year. Hamidul Huq, managing director of Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh (CRAB) recently handed over the Credit Rating Report of DBH to QM Shariful Ala, managing director and CEO of DBH at a function recently
BD Finance Capital Holdings Limited, a full-fledged merchant bank, has signed a brokerage service agreement with Multi Securities and Services Ltd on Thursday. Mohd Ahsan Ullah, managing director and CEO of BD Capital and Abdul Awal, managing director of Multi Securities and Services Ltd signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies
sector had witnessed several fire incidents, which created question about the fire safety in the RMG work place. Fire safety equipment sales has seen a sharp rise in the recent time as the factory owners are now installing fire equipments to meet the buyers condition as well as to save the life of the workers and properties, said M Azharul Islam Khan, chief executive officer of Vega Trading. The main aim of the expo was to educate the factory owners about the latest fire safety technologies and it has already achieved a great success as the numbers of visitors were remarkable, he added. The fair has been a great success to the organisers as the factory owners have got a clear idea about the latest fire safety equipments, said BGMEA president Atiqul Islam. The seminars, aimed at presenting advantages of installing fire safety equipments, also witnessed an over-
whelming presence by the factory owners, which also clearly indicates that entrepreneurs are now keen to make their factory safer, although it will take some time, he added. Energy efficient products also got huge response from the factory owners as it could help save the cost by reduced power consumption. Renowned groups have shown keen their interest to introduce energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies including energy lights, fire proof emergency lights and automated fire extinguishers, said Mustaeem Billah Chowdhury, managing director of ReGreen Bangla Industries Limited. But, still a good number of apparel makers are not ready to invest in fire safety equipments as they are facing trouble in getting fresh orders from the buyers, and also the prices of the products did not increase as per expectation, said a BGMEA director on condition of anonymity. l
B4
n Reuters, Barcelona
Nokia, soon to be acquired by Microsoft Corp, is turning to software created by arch-rival Google for a new line of phones it hopes will make it a late contender in the dynamic low-cost smartphone market. Its first models, Nokia X, X+ and XL, rely upon an open version of the Android mobile software system created by Google that has become the worlds most popular software used in smartphones. The release of the phones just days before Nokia sells its handset business to Microsoft in a $7.2bn deal, is an attempt to stay relevant in emerging markets, where low-cost Android phones are being snapped up by hundreds of millions of buyers.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
'We see the X family being complementary to (Windows Phone) Lumia at lower price points'
Nokia Chief Executive Stephen Elop said the market had shifted dramatically, and the group needed to address a sub-$100 segment that is set to grow four times faster than more expensive phones. He told a crowded press conference at the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona that rather than being an 180-degree turn in its strategy of using Microsofts Windows Phone for smartphones, it was a move that introduces the next billion users to Nokias hardware and Microsofts services. We see the X family being complementary to (Windows Phone) Lumia at lower price points, he said. Even as you see Lumia push lower and lower, you will see us push lower with Nokia X below that. But the strategy shift underlines
The Samsung Gear smartwatch is presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona yesterday ecosystem, and thats what we are doing while others fall by the wayside. But the Microsoft technology does not work on the chip sets found in cheaper smartphones, the fast-growing market crowding out Nokias Asha feature phones, which lack the full Internet capabilities of smartphones. The company rejected Android three years ago, when it tied its fortunes to Microsofts Windows Phone. But Mondays announcement shows it has quietly been working on an open Android device for months. Product Marketing Vice President Jussi Nevanlinna told Reuters the number one requirement from customers was access to Android apps. Our fans oftentimes tell us We love your hardware, we love your products, but we also love our Android apps, he said. Can you make something happen so the Android apps magically run here? IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo said Nokia had a made a rational move that allowed it to address a much bigger market, but it should have been made three years ago. It would have given Nokia a complete different position from where it stands today, under Microsofts control, he said. CCS Insights Wood also said Nokia needed to do something dramatic in low-cost smartphones: Asha has failed to deliver the volumes they needed to be competitive in the low-cost smartphone space, while Android remains completely rampant. The Nokia X family uses the open source version of Android, which runs most apps without the right to customize Googles basic software. For Nokia, it was a question of making this humiliating reversal in its strategy or facing irrelevance in this category of phones, Wood said.
AFP
In February 2011, Elop famously compared Nokias failing smartphone strategy - based on multiple software platforms of its own making - to a man on a burning platform. He chose to jump into the arms of Microsoft, producing high-end Lumiabranded smartphones that have been well received by critics, but less popular with customers and app developers, the people who make the software that turns phones into multi-purpose tools. Elop said on Monday he had not jumped the wrong way. Theres quite a lot of vendors ... who made the Android decision but couldnt differentiate, he said. We wanted to build with Microsoft a third
Nokia services
The open version of Android software means that the new Nokia phone does not have rely on Googles services and access to the Google Play app store. Instead, Nokia is bundling it with its own music and map offers, and Microsofts email,
cloud, messaging and search services. Apps will be available in Nokias own app store, as well as a host of other app stores, Elop said. The look of the Nokia X devices is starkly different from the usual Android phone, with nods to Lumia and Asha interfaces. Elop said rather than confusing customers, Nokia X - where X indicates a cross between Nokia hardware, Android apps and Microsoft services - will be a stepping stone to Lumia, and will share the same cloud services. Lumia continues to be our primary smartphone strategy, Elop said. Lumia is where we will continue to introduce the greatest innovation. l
be sold for 99 euros ($136). South Korean manufacturer LG said on the same day that it would launch its first smartwatch in 2014. Sony revealed its Xperia Z2 smartphone yesterday, the first new edition of its flagship device since it announced this month the sale of its stagnant PC business to focus instead on smartphones and tablets. The waterproof phone, available from March, has a full high definition 5.2-inch screen and a 20.7 megapixel camera that can take ultra-high resolution 4K video, along with noise-cancelling audio. The struggling Japanese group revealed, too, an Xperia Z2 Tablet, also waterproof, and a more affordable Xperia M2 smartphone. But Sony Mobile also entered the fray for wearable devices, releasing the SmartBand SWR10, a bracelet that comes with an application allowing users to log events and photographs taken during the day as well as tracking how far they walk and checking their sleep cycle. Our SmartWear experience goes far beyond health and fitness, Sony Mobile chief executive Kunisama Suzuki boasted.
At the same time, the online world is elbowing its way into the mobile market. Facebooks 29-year-old founder Mark Zuckerberg is the star speaker on the opening day of the fair in Barcelona, fresh from his $19bn (14bn euro) takeover of smartphone messenger WhatsApp. l