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With her child on her back, a woman looks in despair at the rubble of her house in Kornai village of Dinajpur Sadar upazila yesterday
BANGLAR CHOKH
This is a matter of legal interpretation whether the oath taking was violation of constitution
On Thursday 284 out of the total 289 newly-elected lawmakers of the 10th Jatiya Shangsad, took their oaths of office in the parliament building around 10:15am. Article 123 (3) of the charter says the MPs elected by a general election must not assume office as members of parliament before the expiry of the preceding parliament. Again article 148 makes it clear that
Government mulls special tribunal for post-poll violence Karim and n Mohosinul Rabiul Islam
The government has decided to form a special tribunal to deal with the post-election violence, especially that inflicted upon religious minorities in various districts. The home ministry made the decision in a meeting yesterday, with Home Secretary CQK Mustaq Ahmed in the chair. Following the meeting, the home ministry sent a letter to the law ministry asking for arrangements to be made for the constitution of a special tribunal, to be named the special tribunal to check crimes committed on the minorities. The home ministry also ordered the authorities concerned, at the divisional and district headquarters, to urgently send certified copies of the first information reports (FIR), charge sheets and other documents relating to the attacks on minorities which have included killings, rapes, torture, arson, lootings and land thefts. These documents will be scrutinised first, and then used to consider whether some of the cases filed in connection with the attacks can be transferred to the Speedy Trial Tribunals. The cases filed in connection with the 2012 attacks on Buddhists and Hindus in Ramu under Coxs Bazar, may also be shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunals. The home ministrys letter, seeking information about cases, was directed
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INSIDE
News
4 The government plans to conduct a census to identify and prepare a database on the status of factories and workers.
Heritage
7 There could surely be a few more appropriate metaphors to describe the extraordinarily rich history of coinage in Bangladesh.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
PMO
Sheikh Hasina speaks at a meeting of the Awami League parliamentary party after taking oaths yesterday
PMO
Reporters invited but Khaleda does not meet them EU, China and Korea condemn
n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla
Khaleda Zia yesterday cancelled her view-exchange meeting with journalists who went to her upmarket residence in Gulshan. Earlier, BNP chairpersons press wing invited journalists to join the view-exchange meeting through SMS and over phone. Responding to the call from the press wing of the BNP more than 200 journalists gathered in front of her residence. Around 9pm, Shamsuddin Didar, an official of chairpersons press wing, told journalists that the programme was postponed and Khaleda Zia would not hold the view-exchange meeting. He, however, declined to explain as to why the meeting had been cancelled. Meanwhile, the BNP on Thursday alleged that the swearing-in of new parliament members was in violation of the constitution. The party also claimed that Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury violated the constitution by conducting the oath-taking ceremony. Todays [Thursday] swearing-in is a clear violation of the constitution. If President Abdul Hamid invites the parliament leader to form government, it will also violate the constitution, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, said in a statement. The spokesperson of the party alleged that everything was done to cling to the state power. Issuing a note of warning, Fakhrul also said: It is to be remembered that those who violated the constitution today once inserted a provision of punishment in the constitution through 15th amendment for violating the constitution. The BNP leader cited article 123 of the constitution to justify his statement saying the article says elected parliament members cannot take over offices until the term of previous government ends which is January 24. The BNP leader warned that all concerned will have to be indicted one day for such offense. Mirza Fakhrul also slammed the farcical January 5 elections: Time will come and the people will answer to this farce, he said at the end of the statement. After Fakhruls statement, adviser to BNP Chairperson Osman Farruk called off their indefinite blockade for Friday and Saturday. But the blockade will continue from Sunday, he said. We have called off blockades for Friday and Saturday considering peoples sufferings and will resume again from Sunday across the country demanding the cancelation of January 5 farcical polls, he said through a video message. Farruk, who usually briefs the media from his residence, came up with the announcement from a hideout. The party will offer special doa in mosques across the country and will stage demonstration across the country on January 11. The opposition combine enforced indefinite transportation blockade from January 1 simultaneously with two hartal in two spells. l
n Kailash Sarkar
A 10-year-old boy was choked to death while playing with a rope inside a shanty in the capitals Pallabi area yesterday. Deceased Ajoy Dass mother Josna Das said Ajoy had been playing with a rope hung from a wooden structure inside the shanty and got entangled. She said: I had gone to collect wood and no one was at home. My younger son Sanjoy was also playing outside. Hearing chaos, Josna came back to her shanty and found neighbours taking care of her son. Ajoy was admitted to a nearby hospital in a critical condition. He was shifted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead. l
ATTACKS ON HINDUS
people of Bangladesh first. On December 20, European Union said that it would not deploy any election observers. On November 30, it issued the statement which stated: The EU remains concerned that there is still confrontation between the major political groups in the country on the composition of the government during the electoral period. The EU calls on the leaders of all political parties to agree on a mutually acceptable formula so as to facilitate the holding of elections which fully reflect the wishes of the people. It welcomes the efforts of those who have been working to achieve this. Meanwhile, China yesterday said it hoped that parties in Bangladesh can realise political stability through talks and negotiation after its parliamentary election, reported Chinese news agency Xinhua. Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a press briefing said: We noted that Bangladeshs parliamentary election had been completed on Jan 5. As a friendly neighbour of Bangladesh, China is concerned about the countrys national situation. China hopes political forces in Bangladesh can give priority to national long-term and fundamental interests, and hold talks and consultation in efforts to realize political and social stability, as well as economic development, he said. Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Yun-young said his country hoped for an inclusive political process to overcome the current situation and restore peace and stability.l
New cabinet
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Government mulls special tribunal Swearing-in of MPs sparks off legal debate
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After the meeting presidents Press Secretary Ehsanul Karim Hellal said the president congratulated Hasina on her being re-elected as the president of the Awami League parliamentary party. Awami League and Jatiya Party sources said almost all cabinet members of the interim government were likely to be included in the new cabinet. Some new faces such as Mohammad Nasim, Sheikh Fazrul Karim Selim, Anwar Hossain Manju of Jatiya Party (JP), Mossarraf Hossain, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Asaduzzaman Noor might be incorporated into the new government. AMA Muhith, Matia Chowdhury, Syed Ashraful Islam, Abdul Latif Siddique, Khandokar Mosarraf Hossain, Advocate Shahara Khatun, Obaidul Quader, Mujibul Haque, Nurul Islam Nahid, Shahjahan Khan, Hasan, and Hasanul Haque Inu may get the same ministries. Sheikh Selim may be given the health ministry while Mohammad Nasim the home ministry. If Safiq Ahmed becomes adviser to the prime minister then Suranjit Sen may get the law ministry while Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir the planning ministry. If AMA Muhith is not interested, former Bangladesh Bank governor Farash Uddin Ahmed is like to become finance minister. Jatiya Partys Anisul Islam Mahmud, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, Salma Islam and Mujibul Haque Chunnu are reported to be included in the new government. Earlier in the day, 284 MPs, elected in the 10th parliamentary poll, took oaths. Yesterday Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oaths for the newly elected MPs. Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad did not join the oath-taking ceremony. The new MPs from his party joined the programme under Rawshan Ershad who is set to be the leader of the opposition in parliament. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has lost state protocol soon after the lawmakers were sworn in. l
to the inspector general of police, the divisional commissioners, police commissioners, deputy inspector generals, district magistrates and superintendents of police. Deputy Home Secretary Md Mizanur Rahman signed the letter. A senior ministry official said five incidents, including of rape and killing, were now being tried under the Speedy Trial Tribunal system. The home ministry would consider whether the cases, filed in connection
with the attacks, could be brought to the Speedy Trial Tribunal. The official also said, if the attackers could be given punishments under the Speedy Trial Tribunal, the incidents could be prevented. Meanwhile, the home secretary, along with some other high-ranking officials of the ministry, cancelled their visit to Jessore and Dinajpur scheduled for yesterday, where some of the recent attacks on minorities took place, because of inclement weather. l
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Signed by its executive director, Mohammad Nur Khan, the organisations statement said the affected people were leaving their houses due to the lack of security. The organization also demanded the investigation of the incidents by a judicial commission and punishment for the perpetrators. The Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) also formed a human chain yesterday, demanding immediate punishment for the miscreants who have been killing innocent people, attacking minorities, and destroying educational institutions and government property during the recent blockades and shutdowns. Speaking at the human chain, DUTA president Farid Uddin Ahmed said: We have to protest against evil forces from now on, as they want to make Bangladesh like Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although being held under the banner of the DUTA, teachers from the BNP-backed white panel did not join the human chain. Meanwhile at Rajshahi University yesterday, 351 pro-BNP and Jamaat-backed teachers condemned the attacks on minority communities, and demanded an impartial and independent investigation under the supervision of the United Nations.
In Barisal, the city and district units of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Oikya Parishad and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, formed a human chain and brought out a procession, demanding the punishment of the perpetrators and calling for security to be ensured for members of the Hindu community. In Dinajpur and Karmojibi Nari, an NGO for women, formed a human chain demanding security for the Hindu communities and exemplary punishment for the people behind the recent attacks. In Rangamati, Sanatan Jubo Parishad and Puja Udjapon Committee, demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment for the attackers. In Sherpur, Bangladesh Garo Students Association formed a human chain, demanding punishment for the people who attacked the Hindu communities, as well as calling for security to be ensured for all minority groups. Bangladesh Islami Andolon Chairman Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim also expressed concern and anger over the recent attacks on the Hindu community members. Criticising the government for not taking action against the perpetrators, he said: The governments silence is mysterious. l
This is a matter of legal interpretation as to whether the oath taking was a violation of constitution; I am not the person to give the interpretation. I was under constitutional obligation to administer the swearing-in within three days, as the EC published the gazette on Wednesday, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said. She declined to comment on whether two parliaments were in existence after the 10th Jatiya Shangsad MPs took their oaths. The EC, which the main opposition called subservient to the government, is yet to come up with explanation for publishing the gazette. According to the new provision, the 10th parliamentary polls took place under the supervision of an interim government comprising of elected MPs with Sheikh Hasina as its chief.
All elections since 1990, except for the sixth parliamentary polls, have been held under a non-party caretaker government a system which was incorporated into the constitution in 1996 following the Awami Leagues vigorous campaign against the then BNP government. Before 1990, the four parliaments after 1973 (first parliament), had either been abolished or dissolved before completing their five-year terms, as a result of military coups or mass uprisings. The non-party caretaker government provision says such a government can take office after the completion of a five-year term of an elected regime. The caretaker government holds elections within 90 days of the day it takes office. But the last non-party caretaker government stayed in power for about two years beyond its constitutional mandate. The parliamentary records show 226 Awami League MPs and 31 from Jatiya
Party (JaPa) took oaths on Thursday. The parties that took oaths on Thursday included: Workers Party (six), Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (four out of five), Jatiya Party-JP (one), BNF (one) and Tariquat Federation (one). Jatiya Partys HM Ershad, Awami Leagues Saber Hossain Chowdhury, and Nazmul Hassan and Mayeen Uddin Khan Badal of the JSD did not take oaths. Since morning the newly elected MPs and their assistants filled the oath room of the Jatiya Shangsad, as the first oath was supposed to be administered at 10am. The Awami League first took its oaths. Shirin Sharmin Chadhury then administered oaths to other MPs. The Awmai League MPs then attended the first meeting of the parliamentary party, held on the ninth floor of the Jatiya Shangsad. The MPs unanimously elected Sheikh Hasina as the Leader of the House. l
and Hospital at around 6am, the victims brother Abu Bakkar said. Our Laxmipur correspondent reported that army troops gave chase to a group of Jamaat-Shibir men when they blocked a road in the town during the morning. The pickets however, vandalised five auto-rickshaws before the army could arrive. Later in separate drives, joint forces detained 11 picketers. In Sirajganj around 9pm on Wednesday, pickets hurled a petrol bomb at a compartment of the Silk City Express which was heading to Rajshahi, at Kamarkhand Rail Station. No was hurt in the incident, GRP Officer-in-Charge Akbar Hossain said. Buses plied the roads to the capital from Bogra, Jessore, Khulna, Gopalganj and some other districts. The joint forces arrested 15 blockaders from Feni, 31 from Comilla and two opposition men from Kishoreganj, for their alleged involvement in sabotaging trains, and 72 men from Thakurgaon for
involvement in post-polls violence. Transport workers and commuters, who have been suffering for around one-and-half months because of the opposition blockades and hartals, were back on the capitals streets yesterday. Numbers of public and private vehicles was almost as would be expected on a normal day. At many bus stops, office goers and students were standing in queues. Bus driving or assisting is not a permanent job. We get money for every trip. If buses do not leave the stands, the money stops coming, said Abdul Latif, a driver of Bahan Paribahan. His bus was picking up passengers at the Science Laboratory intersection. In the last month, he did not make a single trip, as the bus owner did not dare to bring out the buses. The bus owner said he would operate the bus today. I am so happy that I am back to work, said another driver of Meghna Paribahan, an inter-district bus plying the route from Sayedabad to Dashmina of Patuakhali. At Gabtoli bus terminal many counters
were open. The staff, however, said they will not run the buses on all routes, and the number of buses would be limited. Pickets burnt a bus used for carrying staffers of Sonali Bank, behind the banks head office at Dilkusha last night. Passengers at Kamalapur Railway Station increased dramatically yesterday but the train schedule, which has almost collapsed in the last month, was still to return to normal. Some trains were six to ten hours late. Chittagong-bound Mohanagar Probhati was supposed to leave the station at 7:40am, but it had not reached the station by 4pm. The Dinajpur-bound Ekota Express was supposed to leave the station at 10am, but PA announcers said it would not reach the station before 3pm. Khairul Bashir, the station manager, said they had been trying to maintain the schedule, but could not do so because of the subversive activities targeting rail lines and trains. The situation will change soon. We need at least a month to do so, he said. l
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News
The government would provide necessary protocol and protection to Khaleda Zia despite the fact that she was set to lose the post of the opposition leader
will provide her with the proper protocol and protection, he said. Jatiya Party, which got 33 seats in the January 5 polls, had a meeting yesterday confirming Rawshan Ershad as the opposition leader. Parliament secretariat sources said they would publish the gazette as soon as the authorities instruct. l
A worker sets up CCTV camera in front of the residence of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Hasina: Face arrest for calling hartal n Kamran Reza Chowdhury and
Emran Hossain Shaikh
Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina yesterday warned that anyone who would call hartal or blockade would be arrested. If anyone calls hartal and blockade, he/she will be arrested then and there, Hasina said, apparently directing the warning at the BNP and its alliance. Quoting the party chief, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the new government would be more oppressive to contain the BNP Jamaat alliances destructive activities in the name of anti-government movement. Speaking at a meeting of the Awami League parliamentary party after yesterdays taking-oath ceremony, she asked the lawmakers of her party to form committees at the grassroots and help the law enforcers to counter opposition violence. Hasina urged her party colleagues to pick one of their fellow lawmakers as the leader of the House for the 10th parliament instead of her, prompting the MPs to reject her call unanimously. I have discharged the duties of the leader of the House twice. I am no more interested in doing it again. Please select someone from you for the job, senior Awami League MP Rahmat Ali quoted Hasina as saying. The MPs said no in chorus, making Hasina emotional, Rahmat said. Syed Ashraf then proposed Hasinas name as the leader of the House and Chief Whip of the ninth parliament Abdus Shahid seconded the proposal, amid cheers. Sheikh Hasina is set to become the prime minister for the third time since 1996. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is the only leader to become prime minister thrice. She said the new government would take office as soon as possible for bringing normalcy in the country. l
Several social organisations form human chains in front of the National Press Club yesterday, condemning the communal violence and demanding exemplary punishment to the responsible people RAJIB DHAR
The detained leaders of BNP are produced before the CMM Court yesterday
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CPB organises a lathi rally at the citys Shahbagh yesterday condemning communal violence
NASHIRUL ISLAM
EC to compensate victims
n Mohammad Zakaria
The Election Commission yesterday decided to give compensation to the officials who were killed and injured during the 10th parliamentary polls. The commission asked the returning officers, regional election officers and district election officers to send a list of the victims. The commission also sent letters to them, EC officials said. Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz said the commission would give compensation to those who were killed and injured during the poll. Tk 5 lakh would be given to the families those died, Tk 2 lakh for the critically injured and Tk 1 lakh for the less severely injured. The commission will give the compensation from its own funds. During the polls, two officials were killed and many were injured due to violence. l
Special measures to check HRW calls for an end to stop arbitrary violence in re-election arrests of opposition members
n Mohammad Zakaria
The Election Commission has decided to take special security measures to check violent incidents ahead of the reelection scheduled for January 16. The Election Commission considers all the polling centres vulnerable, said Election Commission Mohammad Abu Hafiz, adding the EC would deploy sufficient number of army, Border Guards Bangladesh, RAB, police, Ansar and Battalion Ansar personnel for maintaining law and order during the polls. The re-voting will be held at 392 polling centres in eight constituencies of six districts. The voting at the polling stations was postponed because of widespread violence, including arson attacks, attacks on election officials and snatching of ballot papers, in the January 5 parliamentary elections. Of the 392 polling centres, 57 are in Dinajpur 4, two in Kurigram-4, 54 in Gaibandha 1, 80 in Gaibandha 3, 72 in Gaibandha 4, 46 in Bogra 7, 60 in Jessore 5 and 21 centres in Lakshmipur 1 constituencies. The commission is also appointing additional judicial and executive magistrates to hold the polls in a free and fair way. The commission will hold meeting with returning officers, district election officers and chief of law enforcing agencies on Saturday about the overall situation of these constituencies, a senior EC official yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune. Army would be deployed in six districts till January 18, the official said. Voting at 597 polling centres in 36 districts were postponed on the day of election. . The Election Commission will not hold re-elections at 205 polling centres where the winner candidates of the constituencies won with big margins, which is higher than the voters of the suspended centres. l
n UNB
Human Rights Watch, a New Yorkbased rights body, said the Bangladesh authorities should immediately end arbitrary arrests of the opposition party members. The ruling party keeps saying it welcomes dialogue with the oppositions, but in the light of ongoing crackdowns, its impossible to take that statement seriously, said Brad Adams, Asia director at the Human Rights Watch. To resolve the current political deadlock, all parties have to make commitments to end political violence, while the international community needs to ramp up pressure for a political settlement that involves a credible election. Arrests have continued even after the ruling Awami League and its allies won the largely uncontested elections held on January 5, 2014, it said in a report released on January 8.
WEATHER
Dozens, and perhaps, hundreds of opposition leaders and members were taken into custody before the election, which was boycotted by the main opposition alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the report said. BNP leader and two-time former prime minister Khaleda Zia was placed under de facto house arrest, with security force surrounding her residence and blocking people from entering and leaving. Many opposition leaders and activists have gone into hiding, the report added. While in some cases the government has acted appropriately to stop violence by some opposition forces, this spate of arrests is part of a pattern of weakening critics, limiting dissent, and consolidating the ruling party power, said Brad Adams. According to the report, as many as 150 people have been killed in political violence in recent months, much of it carried out by the opposition activists.
The Election Commission said nearly 500 voting centres had to be closed because of the violence, including arson attack. Awami League activists have also engaged in attacks on the opposition supporters. Attacks on members of the Hindu community, allegedly by supporters of the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami, have been reported in the media. Many Hindus, Bangladeshs largest religious minority, traditionally vote for Awami League, the report added. It mentioned that many senior opposition leaders from the BNP and thousands of its activists were arrested in the run-up to the election. Ahead of a December 29 BNP March for Democracy, hundreds were arrested, the report said. Leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami party report being threatened with arrest. Many of its members were arrested while others went into hiding, it added. l
RAB 3 officials detain a fake army captain from the citys Khilgao yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Jubo League man Fake captain, bomb maker held Imam and also the Khatib of Tilpapara killed in Chittagong n Kailash Sarkar Jam-e-Mosque, said Major Khademul, Rapid Action Battalion arrested a man and added: Arif is a professional fraud. n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong at the capitals Khilgaon yesterday on He was earlier arrested by Ramna poA Jubo League activist was slaughtered to death by unidentified people in Chittagong yesterday following a feud over the ownership of a fish hatchery. Enamul Haque, officer-in-charge of Raozan police station, said the deceased Nasir was killed near his residence at Haldia village of Raozan upazila around 6pm. Police said they were looking into the incident. l charges of impersonating an Army captain and cheating people. Arif Khan, 35, was arrested near Khilgaon Flyover around 9am with the uniforms of the Bangladesh Army, a toy pistol, a walky-talky set and Tk17,000 cash, said Major Khademul Bashar of RAB 3. Arif was arrested red handed while he had been collecting money as extortion from Moulana Md Yunus, the
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha 5:23am 6:42am 12:06am 3:53pm 5:29pm 6:49pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
lice and after getting out of imprisonment he resumed his fraudulence. Meanwhile, police arrested a youth with three bottles of petrol in Rampura area yesterday. Alauddin was held with three bottles of petrol from an under construction building at Wapda Road around 7pm. Kripa Sindhu Bala, officer-in-charge of Rampura police station, said the youth used to make bombs with petrol. l
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News
Locals collect tomatoes from a burnt truck in Rajshahi city yesterday. Blockade supporters set fire to the truck in the citys Dingadoba area on Wednesday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Hill District Council Chairman Monindra Lal Tripura in the chair. Awami League Khagrachhari district unit brought out a rally around 3pm led by its Joint Secretary SM Shafi who also the asked administration to arrest the killers of Tripura. Panchhari upazila Awami League unit also brought out a rally in Panchhari Bazar around 4.30pm towards the upazila headquarters led by its President Md Bahar Mia. Senior Vice President of Logung union parishad unit of Awami Legue Naba Ranjan Tripura, 42, was gunned down by unidentified miscreants at Karbaripara under Panchhari upazila in Khagrachhari district on Wednesday. A gang of 10-15 miscreants, equipped with firearms, attacked him after entering his Karbaripara village home under
Logang union around 9pm, leaving him dead on the spot, Assistant Superintendent of Police of Khagrachhari sadar circle Sarwar Hossain said quoting locals. He might have been killed because he was acting in support of AL candidate Kujendra Lal Tripura in the general election, he added. Joint force including the army went to Bidya Mohon Karbary area to recover his body and sent it to the Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital around 11am yesterday. UPDF Press Secretary Riko Chakma denied their involvement with the killing of Nobo Ranjan. Paromita Bala Tripura, wife of the deceased, filed a case with the Panchhari police station accusing 11 unidentified criminals. She sought justice and security for her four children. l
Students of Jahangirnagar University bring out a procession on the campus yesterday, demanding arrest and punishment of the killers of Zubair DHAKA TRIBUNE
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Heritage
Launched in the mid-19th century, and originally named Ophia, which changed to Trade Winds when Captain Pierre Blampied Le Patourel (1878 1953) became Master in the late 19th century, this barque held the coveted Blue Ribbon for the tea trip from Calcutta to London WIKIMEDIA
n Tim Steel
here could surely be a few more appropriate metaphors to describe the extraordinarily rich history of coinage in Bangladesh. And it is a very rich history another appropriate adjective, under the circumstances with accumulating evidence, not widely disseminated, that Bangladesh is amongst the earliest places in the world that such tokens of trade were used. All of which offers further evidence that the heritage hunters of the tourism world are missing something when they ignore Bangladesh.
time routes across the world. And this is a world that continues to beat a path to the lands that are the gateway to so much of Asia, still buying cloths and clothes. We know for certain that the world has beaten that path for at least two and a half millennia. Maps created in Asia Minor in about 500 BCE clearly mark a river originating in a long mountain range, before flowing a long course in front of that range to reach the seas. That river could really only be the Ganges. And the information to prepare that map, thousands of miles away, can only have come from traders.
prerequisite of financial success. They are also usually more environmentally and culturally sensitive and aware of the places they visit. And what we also know is that heritage rates up there with cuisine and with shopping as the prime attraction when booking destinations. Of course Bangladesh has a great heritage as a place to shop. History is littered with references to such trade, from perhaps Magesthenes to Daniel Defoe, the literary references are legion. And the craft-based businesses of Bangladesh today can still offer many of the treasures long sought here, from fine silks and muslins,
wealth. Bangladesh lags far behind the international average, as a contribution of tourism to GDP and employment, not merely of the world in general but especially every one of its neighbours, and other South Asian nations.
Shang Dynasty in China contains what may be the earliest copper cast coin, but it is far from clear if, in fact, it is a trade token that might be so classified. But the rich 2,500 or so years of the history of coinage in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is amongst the few nations with a claim to earliest development of coins as tokens of trade
Experts calculate that if Bangladesh could reach at least the international average, which many South Asian countries well exceed, it could generate about $10bn of income in foreign exchange, and in the process create about 4 million new skilled or semi-skilled jobs. And by far the greatest number of those jobs, experience shows, do not require urban migration; in fact, quite the reverse. The jobs in transport service and information would be where the many heritage attractions can be visited all over the country. The recent Standard Chartered-sponsored publication, Coins from Bangladesh, may be a somewhat academic work with strong, specialist, numismatist appeal, but in its academic way it outlines a history of coinage that can only have developed alongside the heritage. In its somewhat downscale way, the tells its own story of kingdoms and empires, down the centuries that are the heritage of these lands that are Bangladesh. A small display of some of these early coins can be seen in the National Museum. If you blink, you may miss them, and since they mark a tangible beginning of the extraordinary history of these lands, like the recent, magnificent publication on the subject, the failure to share both the fact and the significance of these treasures is missing a trick. Of course such tiny exhibits, easy to miss, cannot compare with the ancient cities still emerging from the ground. Cities like that, still unconfirmed in its historic identification, in Wari Bateshwar, Mahasthangarh, Vikrampur, Bagerhat, and probably in Egarasindur. Or the ancient temples, the estimated 400 sites of historic Buddhism, the
Silver rupee of the Bengal Presidency, in the name of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II, was minted at Banaras in AH 1198 It also seems an appropriate metaphor because, amongst other pieces of accumulating evidence of the history, the diversity of watercraft, of rivers and sea, are identified by experts as deriving design traditions from across the ancient world. Over 150 types of rivercraft alone have been identified, with influences deriving from China, Arabia and Europe. Bangladesh, a land of rivers, is after all, at its heart, the delta of three of Asias great rivers, the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, all originating in the great Himalayan mountain range. In these lands, the waters of those great rivers meet the waters of the Indian Ocean, with mariCoinage of course is the currency of trade, and Bangladesh is amongst the few nations with a claim to earliest development of such tokens betokens, not only trade, but expertise also in valuable minerals, gold and silver! The ships that such history, properly disseminated, might well bring today to Bangladesh, as well as the great container ships collecting readymade garments, are the Jahaj, the ships of both sea and air that could bring those heritage hunters. We know from plentiful research into the still growing international market for tourism that the heritage hunters are amongst the most valuable. They are valuable because they are often amongst the best educated around the world, generally the
WIKIMEDIA
through pearls and silver and gold jewelry, to wooden crafts and terracotta. As far as cuisine is concerned, of course the Bangladeshi restaurant experience, so often miscalled Indian, is already well-known, but such as the 50 or so deshi pastries, on offer at the countless teashops across the country, are still one of Bangladeshs best-kept secrets, and overdue for revealing to the world. From nimki and rash puri to samosas and piyajus, the experience is an extraordinary one, and rash puri is a doughnut to beat the texture and flavour of any in the world! The potential for those ships of the air to fly in hordes of sophisticated travellers would certainly identify them as the metaphorical ships, bringing enormous Old coin from Arakan, known today as Rakhine, Myanmar. Minted by Shams al-din Muhammad Ghazi, Sultan of Bengal. Dated AH962 (= 1554/5 AD) WIKIMEDIA publication observes: Bangladesh has a glorious numismatic heritage. Whilst it opens with an illustration of silver coins from Wari Bateshwar, dating from 6th to 3rd century BCE, there is, in fact, some reason to believe that some such finds in that extraordinary archaeological site on the banks of the old Brahmaputra could even prove to be earlier. There is in fact considerable disagreement about the source of the worlds earliest coins, although Bangladesh is certainly in contention. Coins of the 7th century BCE have certainly been identified in Asia Minor, Mesopotamia, and the Greek islands, and give or take a few decades Bangladesh is clearly in contention there. A tomb of the 11th century BCE 100 fine Hindu and Jain sites, and even Islam from its earliest years. Certainly, the 120 palaces have already been identified, even if many are already ruinous, and the visible, tangible remains of Mughal and British empires have more immediate appeal in their sheer number and scale, but to neglect the vital importance of such as the history of coinage is to miss a great opportunity. The opportunity to offer a beacon of attraction to those invaluable heritage hunters, the gifts that they arrive with, carrying in their wallets, of nearly incalculable economic and social benefit to a developing nation like Bangladesh. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.
WIKIMEDIA
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Baghdad
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki is facing one of the biggest challenges of his eight-year rule, with key areas on Baghdads doorstep outside government control just months before general elections. He is also often accused of marginalising and targeting Iraqs Sunni Arab minority, many members of which oppose his government, and has presided over a sharp increase in violence in the country to levels not seen in five years. The city of Fallujah, just 60 kilometres (37 miles) west of Baghdad, has been out of government hands for days, while parts of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi, farther west, are also under the control of militants. But analysts believe that if the 64-year-old Maliki is able to obtain some type of security victory, he may yet be able to emerge relatively unscathed and focus attention away from other failings, as he has done in the past. Maliki faces the biggest challenge since 2006, said Ihsan al-Shammari, a political science professor at Baghdad University. The issue of Fallujah is related to the issue of terrorism, and its impor-
Soldiers stand guard next to a plane transporting the Central African Republic President Michel Djotodia
AFP
n Agencies
The president of the Central African Republic, where more than a thousand people have died in recent violence, is preparing to step down. Michel Djotodia, who deposed Francois Bozize in a coup last March, is due to meet regional leaders in Chad on Thursday to resolve the turmoil sweeping the country. Reporting from Bangui, CARs capital, on Wednesday, Al Jazeeras Barnaby Phillips said: We know the president has left the country and is on his way to the summit. There is a consensus that President Djotodia is not part of the solution to the countrys terrible problems. His short spell in power has been nothing short of disastrous. The French want him out; they are very important players and always have been.
There is a lot of disillusionment across the region and not much patience out there. In an interview with Al Jazeera, J. Peter Pham, Africa Centre director of the Atlantic Council, said Djotodia had lost whatever minimal base he had in the country. Now, he has no constituency, Pham said. He is actually an obstacle to any progress toward a new transition to a possibility of reconciliation in the country. CAR has been plunged into chaos as the countrys Christian majority seeks revenge against Muslim rebels, with the fighting between religious groups intensifying in December. UN officials have told the Security Council that the country is on the brink of a catastrophe, with half the population made homeless since ethnic warfare broke out.
Jeffrey Feltman, UN political affairs chief, told the world body on Monday that about 2.2m people - about half the total population - throughout the country need assistance. About half the people in Bangui - a total of about 513,000 - have been driven from their homes, he said. An estimated 100,000 people have sought shelter at a makeshift camp at the airport near the city. A report in late December by Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, reported 600 deaths in Bangui in those attacks, and Feltman put the current total at 750 casualties. The death toll outside Bangui is likely to be substantial, he said. Killings in Bangui and the rest of the country continue every day, and the population remains divided along religious affiliation. l
A Russian soldier patrols the air defence missile military base stationed near the Olympic park in Sochi
AFP
European Parliament Obama meets intelligence officials to approves Snowden hearing discuss NSA reforms
n AFP, Brussels
A European Parliament committee approved plans Thursday to hear US intelligence whistle blower Edward Snowden, whose revelations about US snooping on EU leaders has sparked uproar against Washington. Parliaments Civil Liberties committee voted 36 in favour, two against, to hear Snowden by video-link from Russia where he has found temporary asylum. Reports based on Snowdens leaked files have shown Washington running a global system, backed up by allies such as Britain, to listen in on Internet and telephone systems. This included revelations that the US National Security Agency had even tapped the mobile phone of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The full parliament will vote on the committees recommendation in February, with the Snowden hearing possible in April if it wins full house approval. l
n AFP, Washington
US President Barack Obama met top spy chiefs Wednesday as he finalized a decision on how to rein in National Security Agency spying sweeps following revelations by Edward Snowden. Obama met the heads of the NSA, CIA, FBI and the director of national intelligence as part of a string of meetings with advocates on both sides of the debate on balancing privacy and national security. This was an important chance for the president to hear directly from his team as he begins to make final decisions about how we move forward with key intelligence collection programs, said National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden. The meeting included CIA chief John Brennan, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, NSA head General Keith Alexander and Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey. Obama was joined in the talks by
Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder. The president also held a meeting with members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a watchdog body set up by Congress after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Obama promised that a report the board is preparing will be factored into the administrations deliberations on how to move forward, the White House said. On Thursday, Obama plans to meet top lawmakers with responsibilities overseeing the intelligence community including some critics of NSA mass phone data capture programs to discuss how to reform the intelligence community. Aides say that Obama spent considerable time during his recent vacation in Hawaii mulling new constraints on US security agencies in the wake of revelations of mass snooping by fugitive intelligence agency contractor Snowden. The president will deliver his con-
clusions in a speech within weeks, and definitely before his annual State of the Union Address, which is scheduled for January 28. A review panel tasked by Obama with looking at reforms of the intelligence community came up with 46 recommendations in a report issued in December, among them scaling back NSA activities to restore public trust. The report included calls to end the agencys power to collect and store Americans phone records. The group also called for curbs on the NSAs ability to ask technology firms to insert back doors to software that allow it to access encrypted communications. The panel also said the NSA should do more to inform the public and lawmakers about the extent of its surveillance. Obama has hinted that he may be in favour of continuing the mass collection of phone data but that thebns of items should be held by communications firms or a third party and not the NSA. l
n AFP, Washington
President Barack Obama invited German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Washington on Wednesday, hoping to mend fences after a row provoked by revelations of US eavesdropping on her cell phone. Obama called Merkel to wish her a speedy recovery after her recent skiing injury and invited her to visit at a mutually agreeable time in the coming months, the White House said in a statement. Merkel last year reacted furiously to claims the National Security Agency had been listening in on her mobile, telling Obama in October that this would be a breach of trust between two allies. Media reports of American snooping based on documents leaked by fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden have damaged US relations with key allies and were a political and personal embarrassment for Obama. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Seoul
North Korea Thursday rejected a South Korean proposal for resuming reunions for families separated by the Korean War, citing planned South-US military exercises as a major barrier. The Norths main body for inter-Korean affairs said it would like to get the reunions going again, but questioned the Souths sincerity. How could separated families comfortably meet for a reunion in the face of ceaseless war practices staged in the South? the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea (CPRK) was quoted as saying by the Norths official KCNA news agency. South Korea and the United States conduct a series of joint military exercises of varying magnitude every year. The drills are routinely condemned by the North as rehearsals for invasion. Earlier this week South Korean President Park Geun-Hye had called for a family reunion event to be held around the time of the Lunar New Year on January 31. In a press conference, Park said the reunion programme would provide new momentum to improving ties fol-
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14% want Gandhi to be Indian PM n AFP, New Delhi
Only 14% of voters believe Rahul Gandhi would make the best prime minister for India, a survey found Thursday, just days after his endorsement by outgoing Congress premier Manmohan Singh. The survey for The Times of India found 58% of respondents want Narendra Modi, the candidate of the main nationalist opposition party in this years general election, to be the next prime minister while 25% opted for the anti-corruption champion Arvind Kejriwal. The poll makes grim reading for the ruling Congress party, which had been hoping that the youthful Gandhi would significantly increase its apparently slim chances of victory in the election due by May. Gandhi, 43, is expected to be named at a party meeting on January 17 as Congresss candidate for premier after the 81-year-old Singh confirmed last Friday that he would step down after the polls. l
Workers gather near an explosion site at a plant of the Japanese chemical company Mitsubishi Materials
AFP
n AFP, Tokyo
An explosion at a Japanese factory that had previously attracted the attention of safety inspectors killed at least five people and injured a dozen more Thursday. The blast happened in the early afternoon at the plant in the central city of Yokkaichi, when maintenance crews were working on a heat exchanger used in the production of silicon products, a plant spokesman told AFP. Initial reports put the death toll at two, but they were quickly revised upwards. Five people are dead. 12 people have been injured, of whom nine sustained only minor injuries, said a spokeswoman at Mie prefectural police. A separate police spokesman told AFP the plant, run by Mitsubishi Materials, makes parts for solar panels and automobiles, using polymers made from silicon, hydrogen and chlorine. An explosion occurred but there is no fire. We received an emergency call at 2:09 pm (0509 GMT)...and at 2:21 pm the incident appeared to have calmed down, he said. Television footage showed around a
dozen fire-fighters setting out stretchers for victims at the site, where a pipe appeared to have fallen to the ground and other machinery parts were scattered nearby. I heard a boom and saw white smoke rising from the plant, a 56-yearold worker at a nearby plant was quoted by the Sankei Shimbun as saying. I dont remember there ever being such a serious accident in Yokkaichi before.
I heard a boom and saw white smoke rising from the plant
A separate police spokeswoman said detailed inspections to determine the cause of the accident had not yet begun because of the danger of secondary explosions, although she added that there was no known risk of a toxic chemical leak. Hiroki Morofuji, an official at the plant, said the blast had involved maintenance workers at the premises, which are sited in a heavily industrialised region. Mitsubishi Materials, headquar-
tered in the Japanese capital, makes a range of products including auto parts, silicon wafers for memory chips used in consumer electronics, and cement for road and bridge construction. Some 170 people were working at the plant, a Tokyo-based spokesman said. Operation at the plant has been suspended. We still dont know the cause of the explosion. He confirmed a report by Dow Jones Newswires that the Yokkaichi factory was ordered by local officials to shut down for several months in 2010 after an on-site inspection discovered it was generating high-pressure gas without necessary permits. The company, which reported sales of about $12.2bn in its latest fiscal year, has more than 22,000 employees and operations across the globe including in the United States, Brazil, Germany and India, according to its website. The death toll is the largest in an industrial accident in Japan since an undersea tunnel collapsed at an oil refinery in February 2012, trapping five people.l
Indian court orders security for family of gang-rape victim n AFP, New Delhi
An Indian court Thursday ordered protection for the family of a schoolgirl who was gang-raped twice and then burned to death in the countrys east, the father said. The family sought protection from the High Court in the eastern city of Kolkata after vowing to fight for justice for their 16-year-old daughter, who died on New Years Eve after being set ablaze. The father says his family has been threatened by members of the gang which raped his daughter on October 26 and then again the next day. The second rape occurred as she was returning home in the town of Madhyagram, 25 kilometres (15 miles) north of Kolkata, after reporting the first attack at a police station. The family moved house but gang members tracked them down, before allegedly setting their daughter on fire on December 23 at their home. She later died in hospital. I am satisfied and confident that we will get justice for our daughter, the father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told AFP by phone from Kolkata after the courts order. l
n Agencies
A county chief and three other officials have been dismissed over a stampede at a mosque in Chinas northwest that left 14 people dead. Those sacked included Xiji county head Ren Lixin, along with the countys director of religious affairs, deputy police chief, and a township head, Xinhua News Agency said on Thursday. The mosques administrator has already been detained on suspicion of criminal negligence. The stampede, which also left ten injured happened in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region on Sunday, was blamed on poor crowd control. l
AFP
A young African lion has died after getting its head caught in cables in its cage at an Indonesian zoo notorious for hundreds of animal deaths in recent years, it was announced Thursday. The 18-month-old lion named Michael was found early Tuesday at the zoo in Surabaya, in the east of the main island of Java, said zoo spokesman Agus Supangkat. The lion was found hanging from the roof of his cage. He was very young and got his head stuck in cables that keepers use to open and close the cage, Supangkat told AFP. Supangkat insisted that the death was an accident and not due to negligence. Police were investigating its death, he added. The incident came just two days after a wildebeest was found dead in its cage at the zoo, which has been dubbed the death zoo because so many animals have died there prematurely in recent years due to neglect. Among them have been endangered orangutans, a tiger whose food was laced with formaldehyde and a giraffe found dead with a beach ball-sized lump of plastic in its stomach, after eating food wrappers thrown into its pen over the years. The wildebeest died on Sunday evening of intestinal complications. Supangkat insisted the wildebeest had been properly fed and said it became sick after days of intense rain and humidity. The management of the zoo Indonesias biggest has been taken over by the Surabaya city administration, but the deaths have not stopped and animal welfare groups continue to call for its closure.
Police in China have detained a man over the death of a rare Siberian tiger discovered in the back of an SUV, a report said Thursday. Pictures showing officers pulling the black-streaked tiger, wrapped in a plastic bag, out of a white vehicle went viral on Chinas Internet after they were posted online. Police in the eastern city of Wenzhou are holding a suspect identified as a former chef in connection with the tigers death, the local Youth Times newspaper said. The tiger was seized by police after they spotted the bag and found its shape suspicious, the report said. Trade in Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, is outlawed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Hundreds of the animals, known scientifically as Panthera tigris altaica, once roamed the lush pine and oak forests of north-eastern China. As recently as the 1970s China and Russia each had about 150 Siberian tigers, but now only around 20 are estimated still to survive in the wild in China. Conservationists cite increased logging as well as poaching of the species for use in traditional Chinese medicine as among reasons for the dramatic fall in their numbers. The body of the seized tiger is being stored in a local zoo, the report said, adding that experts judged it to be a male between five and six years old but had not yet determined the cause of its death.
Amnesty International accused Malaysias government on Thursday of a disturbing assault on freedoms by banning a leading coalition of human rights groups. Malaysias Home Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday declaring the Coalition of Malaysian NGOs (COMANGO) illegal because the group and 39 of its 54 components were not registered with the government. Ministry secretary-general Mohamad Khalid Shariff accused COMANGO of pursuing rights that run contrary to Islam including gay, lesbian and transgender issues. The coalition angered authorities last year when it submitted a report to the United Nations condemning the Muslim-majority nations human rights record ahead of a UN rights review. Amnesty, whose Malaysian arm is under COMANGO, denounced the move. Outlawing COMANGO is a deeply disturbing action aimed at silencing important critical voices that have advocated on the world stage for Malaysia to uphold international human rights law and standards, Hazel Galang-Folli, Malaysia researcher at Amnesty International, said in a statement. It remains unclear how the ministrys ban will affect COMANGO activities or those of its members. l
Malaysia in Malaysia probes priest for disturbing assault on rights: Amnesty sedition in Allah row tor for sedition. n AFP, Kuala Lumpur n AFP, Kuala Lumpur He could not say whether Andrew
Authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia are investigating a Catholic priest for sedition in an escalating religious row over the use of the word Allah, an official said Thursday. A court in October barred the Malaysian Catholic newspaper Herald from using Allah to refer to the Christian God in its Malay-language edition. The verdict was welcomed by Muslim conservatives but raised concerns among Christians, a minority in the multi-faith country who say the practice of their religion is increasingly under threat.
A court barred the Malaysian Catholic newspaper Herald from using Allah to refer to the Christian God
On Tuesday police questioned Herald editor Father Lawrence Andrew for sedition after he told news portal The Malaysian Insider last month that churches would continue to use Allah in their Malay-language services. Majid Hamzah, head of the prosecution division in the Attorney Generals Chambers, Thursday confirmed that authorities were investigating the edi-
would face charges. Andrews lawyer Francis Pereira told AFP his clients comments were clearly not in any way seditious. I dont see any reason why he should be investigated for sedition, Pereira said. The dispute over the use of Allah by non-Muslims first erupted in 2007 when the Home Ministry threatened to revoke the Heralds publishing permit for using the word. Authorities said using Allah in non-Muslim literature could confuse Muslims and entice them to convert. The church argues Allah has been used for over a century in the Malay language to refer to God outside of Islam. The bans initial removal by a lower court in late 2009 triggered a series of attacks with Molotov cocktails, rocks and paint on churches and other places of worship, sparking fears of wider religious conflict. But a higher court overturned that ruling in October, reinstating the ban. Last week, Islamic authorities seized more than 300 Malay-language Bibles using the word Allah from the Bible Society of Malaysia and questioned two of its officers. Rights groups and some opposition leaders have condemned the seizure. l
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
he nature and timing of the recent arrest of three senior BNP leaders as well as the denial of bail and remand pleas of six others gives us cause for disquiet. There is a case to be made that calling hartals and blockades makes one complicit in the violence that ensues. There has been enough carnage over the past year during virtually every program of hartal and blockade that the link to violence is now quite hard to treat as coincidental. However, the government may need to explicitly change the law before such strict measures against hartal and blockades can be enforced. And any such change must still be consistent with the basic rights enshrined in the constitution. It must indeed also safeguard freedoms essential for democratic politics. Given existing laws and practice though, it is hard not to see the charges filed as anything but tendentious. The connection of the three arrested to the violence seems tenuous, at best. Further, given the age and health of the persons involved, it would be reasonable in these cases to expect bail to be granted. The fact that the arrests occurred after the accused spoke out on behalf of their party makes it seem as if the government is using these kinds of charges to silence the opposition, and the denial of bail and removal to remand supports this inference. Similarly the rejection of bail and remand pleas of the six senior BNP leaders, five of whom have already been behind bars for two months, appears excessive and unnecessarily punitive. At a time when constructive dialogue is still the public expectation, and possibly the best way to a durable solution, arresting and detaining key figures in this manner, in addition to others already held, does not strike us as helpful to creating a conducive climate for talks. The opposition too is not helping that climate by persisting with the most destructive forms of political protest. The government must find a way to either start a new dialogue or apprehend real perpetrators of violence. But it must not be seen to be seeking to apply state power to weaken the opposition.
The connection of the three arrested to the violence seems tenuous, at best. Detaining key figures in this manner does not strike us as helpful
January 5 If those who won by default had any decency, they would not take oath as MPs. Parveen
January 2 You wrote that teachers and lawyers were out on the streets protesting. But my question is: Where are the human rights activists, after a female lawyer was being brutally attacked by AL goons in broad daylight? This is not only anti-democratic but downright unethical to be punished for her beliefs. She may be pro BNP but what right did the AL have to assault her just for joining a procession? Police work for the government, so I am not surprised that they did not come to her rescue. Where are our eminent citizens from civil society who usually protest such anarchy? The general public has become disinterested in raising their voices because they are afraid of speaking out. Most people have seen that democracy is not being practiced in BD, at least not for now. Why would they risk their lives and the safety of their families just to get arrested or killed? There is no respect for freedom of opinion and peoples right to assemble in a peaceful manner. In what civilised country is an opposition leader barricaded in her own house because of the fear of a march that she had called for? Needless to say, the government is very fearful and has lost confidence, and at this point is not worried about what is right or wrong. At any cost, their only goal is to stay in power. What kind of message are the political leaders sending to the future generation? a citizen
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Effective occupational health and safety measures are vital for all workers and help economic development. Others should follow this initiative as a model
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ACROSS 1 Garden tools (4) 5 Domesticates (5) 9 Animosity (6) 10 Consumed (3) 11 Encounter (4) 12 Tracking system (5) 14 Kingly (5) 16 Afresh (4) 19 Prepare for publication (4) 21 Attack (5) 24 Chess pieces (5) 27 Fruit (4) 29 Self (3) 30 Reluctant (6) 31 Poor (5) 32 Catch sight of (4) DOWN 1 Marijuana (4) 2 United (3) 3 Come forth (6) 4 Location (4) 5 Unjust rulers (7) 6 Insane (3) 7 Greek letter (3) 8 Watery part of blood (5) 13 Alcoholic drink (3) 15 Deny (7) 17 Irrigates (6) 18 Trembling poplar (5) 20 Spanish title (3) 22 Fencing sword (4) 23 Hunted animal (4) 25 Mature (3) 26 Misery (3) 28 Snake (3)
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
n Tamim Choudhury
PMO
a sense of urgency has been missing since the beginning of the violence unleashed by Jamaat-Shibir men in different pockets of the country such as Rajshahi, Bogra, Satkhira, Sitakunda and Gaibandha. There has actually been an increase in the number of terrorist activities immediately after the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal against Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee.
about without fear or anxiety. At the very outset, the government has to create a general impression that it is moving fast enough to bring peace and stability. Terrorists and anti-social elements have to be dealt with. This should be done with greater commitment, not with arrogance. Surely, it is a daunting situation, and it is not easy to settle things quickly. But delays in catching the bull by the horns will only make the problem
Both the AL and BNP should understand that Bangladesh cannot achieve any target without strengthening the economy
While the home minister has talked about taking effective measures by law enforcers, we have seen Jamaat-Shibir violently attack not only AL activists, minorities, and common people, but also police personnel. The time has come to establish an effective system and an institutional framework to eliminate terrorists, and to ensure peace and stability, so that businesses are operated, educational institutions can continue to run, and people feel the confidence to move all the more difficult to handle. Bangladesh, despite huge development achievements during the last five years, will face formidable challenges domestically while more difficulties are to be faced from the international community too. Sheikh Hasina needs to be careful in her strategy to go with the international communitys efforts for peace and reconciliation in the country. There is little space to overlook the regional powers too.
While the friendship needs to be maintained, Bangladesh should also continue to seek dialogue and resolutions for all outstanding issues with India. As for talks with BNP, the dialogue, according to Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu, will take place only when BNP announces that it is no longer with the Jamaat-e-Islami. The government has to understand that the imposition of too many conditions will put the peace effort at risk. Both the AL and BNP should understand that Bangladesh cannot achieve any target without strengthening the economy. Electricity and other infrastructural issues should be at the top of all priority issues for development. Sheikh Hasina, her party, and above all, Bangladesh has had to pay a huge price for this election, which according to the ruling coalition was to maintain constitutional process to continue democracy. Now, she has to motivate the people to help the government in its great task to overcome the countrys formidable economic, security, and administrative problems. This is the time to show leadership. This is the time to talk about a new Bangladesh. l Syed Ishtiaque Reza is Director of News, Ekattor Television.
s the US Senate has cleared the way for a congressional hearing on Bangladeshs political reform, a prominent Washington DCbased think-tank has issued a backgrounder that supplies senators with the analytical dimension on Americas strategy for Bangladesh. This policy brief will almost certainly be a reference point for the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Combating Islamism in South Asia: Keeping Bangladesh on the Democratic Path was published by the Heritage Foundation.The backgrounder comes at a critical juncture in Bangladeshs relations with the US. Prime Minister Hasinas forced retirement of Professor Yunus from his Grameen Bank, the $1.2 bn World Bank loan cancellation due to corruption among project-involved Bangladeshi officials, and deficiencies of the International Crimes Tribunal are all featured in the backgrounder. These issues have been repeatedly expressed by US officials as their frustrations grow with the Awami League government. The report states that the removal of the caretaker government has caused opposition BNP to boycott the election, thereby sacrificing the polling process credibility, leading to political destabilisation that undermines democracy, and causing Islamist ideology to gain ground among Bangladeshis.The summarising point is that political chaos is a breeding ground for domestic and international extremism. Despite giving Hasinas government credit for successfully dismantling Islamist extremists like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, enacting legislations such as the Anti Terrorism Act of 2009, and the handover of terror suspects to India, the policy brief reasons that the governments deviation from democracy will usher in Islamist extremism, the international bogeyman of the West. The backgrounder also details how the war crimes tribunal verdicts and the execution of Islamist leader Abdul Quader Molla led to over 150 deaths from riots, unleashed furor among Islamists, and basically caused severe destabilisation in the nation. It also warns that the impressive economic gains made over the years will be difficult to maintain, and Islamists will certainly exploit the political chaos. It is quite ironic when the party that presents itself as the secular vanguard against Islamists is depicted as the reason behind Islamists resurgence. The policy brief plays off the Obama administrations pivot toward Asia, which realigns US military and diplomatic strength to this region. China is cited as Bangladeshs top military equipment supplier and largest trading partner, with an over $8bn trade in 2012. Chinas buildup of ties to Bangladesh is illustrated, with its pledge to develop a deep-seaport at Sonadia Island and interest in establishing a transport link from Chittagong to Kunming, China. The US is recommended to enhance maritime security with joint naval exercises and port calls to contain
Chinese maritime power.Also, the superpower is asked to enlarge economic engagement to balance off Chinese investment, and even consider trilateral cooperation with India to lessen Chinese regional influence. This issue paper has multiple recommendations for the US government: Hasina should be pressed to negotiate with the BNP on elections, encourage an all-party government with a neutral technocratic leader to conduct elections, and urge for a permanent, independent election commission that supervises/adjudicates future elections.
The brief reasons that the governments deviation from democracy will usher in Islamist extremism
Furthermore, there should be increased scrutiny of the war crimes court to monitor if individual civil liberties are protected and due process is carried out. The US should also reinstate Bangladeshs Generalised System of Preferences, as its removal is not influencing readymade garments sector, but rather harming rural farmers access to US markets. Moreover, it should be clearly stated that whichever party comes to power will cooperate on counterterrorism. The report points out that lethal blasts conducted by Islamists during BNPs tenure are unacceptable, and the threat should not be allowed to resurface. This is Americas most important national security issue, and the message is likely to be strongly addressed to BNP. The policy brief makes no hesitation in suggesting that the US get more involved in modifying the war crimes court, an institution established to remedy national scars left from the Liberation War. It also advocates that the US retain its global hegemony by limiting Chinese influence. Ultimately, the backgrounder boldly promotes US leadership in the international order, with Bangladesh following its instructions. Established in 1973, the Heritage Foundation is ranked number 10 for having the most significant impact on public policy. Global Go To Think Tank 2012 also ranked it number 18 among global think tanks after contacting 6,603 institutions around the world. Simple Resolution 318 condemns Bangladeshs political violence and urges the nations leaders to engage in substantive dialogue for free, fair, and credible elections. Heritage Foundations backgrounder provides the analytical framework on disapproving the ALs actions, and a path for Americas future relations with Bangladesh. l Tamim Choudhury is a greater Washington, DC-based communications analyst.
n Rehnuma Sazzad
ince the heinous attacks on some of the followers of the Hindu religion in Bangladesh, I have been thinking of a protest that would bring the shamelessness to an end. Despite my comfortable religious identity, my overwhelming experience as a Bangladeshi remains that of being a non-belonger. Something is always amiss about my background or position, which disallows me to be part of privileged categories of any sort in Bangladesh. We fought a Liberation War against Pakistan because the society was run by a system of privilege (it still is, as far as I am concerned). If you were Urdu-speaking, Muslim-looking, and rich in Pakistan, you could live a reasonably trouble-free life in the Muslim majority state. Ironically, we have also changed the humanistic narrative on the basis of which Bangladesh came into existence. The narrative established all natural inhabitants of the historical land of (East) Bengal as its claimants. However, soon after independence, we became successful in manipulating the narrative by encouraging the mushrooming of privileges. Simply put, you have to be a Bengali-speaking, wealthy, and preferably
Muslim-looking citizen of the country to get by easily. We can congratulate ourselves on the newest level of achievement, which asks us to take out the concealed preference for Muslims. Since we have minoritised anybody whose vernacular is not Bengali and whose religion does not happen to be Islam, it is apparently suitable now to drive these people out of the land. It is perhaps useless to remind us that all our ancestors, despite our different languages and religions, shared the same land. We have all lived here for thousands of years. Therefore, we must accept the equal right of every natural inhabitant of the country. But we do not do so, of course. Hence, we have allowed the arson, looting, torture, and killing of Hindus unopposed. They are especially vulnerable due to being seen as a vote bank of a specific party. I appreciate that the government has announced its zero tolerance on crimes like the above. However, they must instruct their local MPs and party members to follow this through. Some of the reports of the attacks specifically mention that the MPs were not responding to the SOSs coming their way.Even more disastrous is the fact that the law and order authorities werefruitlessly called upon in some cases, as per the reports of the brazen incidents of January 6.
I understand that law enforcing agencies are overstretched to control the situation. Even so, it is unacceptable that the police will fail to ensure their timely presence in an attacked area to intervene against communal violence. As for the other political groups and their supporters, they are busy discussing the flawed election. The cries of the persecuted people do not enter their ears. We Bangladeshis prefer to think in terms of filiation (blood connection, religious fraternity, ethnic similarity). Therefore, people who are suffering most abominably due to their supposed sympathy for a specific political party and their religious identity, share exactly the same ethnic origin with their Muslim brothers and sisters. I am often told by ambitious Bengali Muslims that they do not have time to spare for other people. Hence, it is high time we realised that the villages burned and the people humiliated are our own. Let us have a look at the list of places at Chehelgazi Union in Dinajpur for example, where hundreds of houses, shops, and business outlets were broken down and looted. Shahapara, Pritompara, Profullapara, Telipara, Boidyapara, Hajipara, and Ajyapara belong to none other than our brothers and sisters. We share the same culture. These people have
always co-existed with their Muslim friends. We must understand that the trauma suffered by the children of the attacked during the hooliganism undermines the unbreakable bond that the Muslims share with them. Both the muffled cries and the wailing of the victims mock the fundamental values of the country. The hopelessness and pain of the children and women who have taken shelter in schools and temples point out the failure of the rest of us to protect them. We are simply fortunate enough not to have been born in their locality. The fact that 700 people had to cross a big river in the chilly winter should numb anyones senses. Fear still rules the day in the areas where the Hindus live. It is time to note that the cold-blooded violence shown with the stabbing of ones own neighbour at Obhoynagar in Jessore will not stop until our mindless inattention incidents like this is shaken off. We may choose to ignore the intimidation experienced by the dwellers of Monirampur in Jessore, but there is no denying that the forces that are making the areas unliveable for the Hindu villagers are not far away from any of us. We must stop them rightaway. Why our Hindu brothers and
sisters are targeted and dehumanised needs no explanation. We have allowed attacks on them to continue unrestrained. Time has come to speak up against the miscreants from whose clutches we have to rescue even our betel leaf trees. We have to join our voices the attacks carried out by Jamaat-Shibir, the terrorist organisation that has no right to operate inside the country.
The trauma suffered by the children of the attacked during the hooliganism undermines the unbreakable bond that the Muslims share with them
ICSF (International Crimes Strategy Forum) has correctly asserted that the existing situation is no longer a law and order issue, but rapidly culminating into a grave human rights crisis which the government must immediately address as a matter of highest priority. We should all express our solidarity with the demand, and do our best to materialise a religious fanatic-free country. l Rehnuma Sazzad is an activist and researcher.
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
At the Sufia Kamal Auditorium of National Museum, five films will be screened today, Legacy Of A Nobody directed by Matt Erickson at 3pm, Kayan directed by Maryam Najapi at 5:30pm, Refugio 115 directed by Ivan Villamel at 7:30pm, Alexander Zavins Slowly Up and will wrap up with the showing of Lien Chien Hungs A Way respectively. Parallel to the event, the festival committee has also organised an International Conference on Women in Cinema in cooperation with the Department of Women and Gender Studies, Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and Department of Television & Film Studies of the University of Dhaka. From today, the two day-long conference will be held at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Hall of the University of Dhaka. Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, Vice Chancellor of University of Dhaka will grace the occasion as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony to be held today at 9:30 am at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Hall of the University of Dhaka. l
To celebrate their third founding anniversary, theatre troupe Punyobhumi held a programme at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on December 8. With the slogan Mukto Koro Bhoy Apona Majhe Shokti Dhoro Nijeke Koro Joy, the festival was addressed by media personality Jayanta Chattopadyay and senior members of the troupe. They staged their acclaimed play Tomake Pabar Jonno Hey Shadhinota at the event
Satellite Boy
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42 Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12 8pm Shilpangan House 7, Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi Zainul Quamrul Exhibition Time: 10am 8pm Nalini Kanta Bhattasali Gallery National Museum Shahbagh
Theatre
Khona By Bot-Tola Studio Theatre Hall Time: 6:30pm 8:30pm Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha
Escape Plan The Conjuring The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex Bashundhara City Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka-244, Kuril Pragati Avenue, Dhaka
Film
Pacific Rim in 3D
ON TV
MOVIE
7:20pmHBO
Miss Congeniality
DRAMA
9:30pm Star Plus 10:00pm Sony
Jee Le Zara Diya Aur Bati Hum
Telefilm Kaliganj-er Odbhut Bari will air today on Channel-i at 2:40pm. The thriller features Mou, Agun, Chhanda and Sazzad in the lead roles
COMEDY
1:30pm Comedy Central
Whitney
8:30pm Z Cafe
Being Erica
Madhuri Dixit-Nene is all set to return to the silver screen after seven years in a never-seen-before avatar in Dedh Ishqiya, a thriller-drama based in the hinterlands, which is set to release today. Expectations were sky high from Abhishek Chaubeys second directorial venture Dedh Ishqiya (first one was Ishqiya) because the first part of the franchise was critically acclaimed. Chaubey couldnt afford to go wrong with this one, and he did not. Dedh Ishqiyas success can be attributed to the taut story of Darab Farooqui which is aided by Chaubeys fine screenplay, Vishal Bhardwajs rib-tickling, naughty dialogues and Bashir Badrs lovely Urdu poems. Chaubey conjures a quaint, lyrical and extravagant world, which he uses to highlight the waning wealth
of feudal society, writes Suhani Singh, India Today. The director who has written screenplays for films like Omkara and Kaminey deserves a round of applause for making this sequel better than the original. Dedh Ishqiya is in many respects appreciably more enthralling than Ishqiya, says Saibal Chatterjee, NDTV. In fact, Dedh Ishqiya offers a different flavour that the viewers might like to savour. Ishqiya was sharp, spicy and volatile, with impulsive characters and a storyline taking a somersault every few minutes. Dedh Ishqiya is no different. It transports viewers to a diverse world, but like the first part, this one focuses on love and deceit as well. Also, its far more complex this time around... and the truth hits like a ton of bricks! writes Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama. l
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 6 5
DAYS TO GO
Abahanis Ghanaian forward Osie Morrison expresses frustration after squandering a scoring chance against Feni Soccer at the BNS yesterday
SL series on track
n Minhaz Uddin Khan
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the home series against Sri Lanka later this month to be on track. The security concern raised by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to the political unrest in the country had earlier put the series in doubt; however, the BCB yesterday through a media release confirmed that the tour is on course as scheduled. The BCB informed that SLC has confirmed that their national teams tour of Bangladesh would take place as per the schedule. The Sri Lanka team is due to arrive in Dhaka on 24 January 2014 to play two Tests, three ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals against the Tigers. The SLC representatives have confirmed here today that the Sri Lanka team will tour Bangladesh as planned. The standard security inspections and monitoring in regards to arrangements will continue side by side, said the BCB president Nazmul Hassan, who was in Dubai for a meeting of ICC full member countries, to the media yesterday. However the SLC, according to a leading cricket website, did not explicitly confirm it would send a team and said its final decision would depend on the visit, from January 13, of a security delegation to Bangladesh. We have said we are touring and we have taken the FTP [into consideration], so the assurance is there, said SLC president Jayantha Dharmadasa to the media yesterday. At the present time we cant say were not going, and thats what I told them [BCB]. We have two people going to assess the situation, because its changing day by day, Jayantha informed. Alongside the Sri Lanka tour, Pakistan Cricket Board were also skeptical of coming to Bangladesh due to the growing anti-Pakistan sentiment. The BCBs assurance to the PCB of enhanced security measures for the national cricket team during the tournament is being said to have convinced the worried board. We have had a positive discussion. The PCB has requested additional security measures for the Pakistan team which will be incorporated in our security plan. We have assured the PCB that their requirements will be fulfilled, said BCB acting CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury.l
MUMIT M
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Feni Soccer
00
Abahani
volleyed the ball over 23Morrison the bar from the middle of the
Samnick to block. The four-time professional league champions continued to in the same vein in the second half and Ghanaian forward Awudu Ibrahim missed a golden opportunity to take the lead. Receiving a through ball from Yoko Samnick, Awudu broke into the penalty area and tried his luck at the far post but his shot went just wide. Abahanis best chance came in the 69th minute. A cutback pass from Awudu Ibrahim set up Towhidul, who took a shot from the six-yard box. What Towhidul was trying to do was unclear, but his effort was collected by Morrison a yard away from the goalpost but he in turn shot straight to the goalkeeper. A minute later, Wassiou Okalawon failed to control a long ball in the sixyard box. Abahani had their very last chance in injury time when substitute forward Md Rajon Miah smashed the ball over the bar following a long cross from Nasir. l
25
33
34
58
69 70
90+
box after an Awudu Ibrahim cross from the right flank. Morrison missed yet another chance, firing Sharifuls cross wide of the goal. Sharifuls cross from the right flank found Towhidul in the box but the midfielders diving header hit the side net. Gambian midfielder Mamodou Lamin Fayes shot from the middle of the box was blocked by Yoko Samnick. Receiving a through pass from Yoko Samnick, Awudu broke into the penalty area and tried his luck at the far post but his shot went just wide. Awudus cutback, Towhiduls shot on target and Morrison shot straight to the keeper. Wassiou Okalawon failed to take control of a long ball inside the six-yard box. Md Rajon Miah smashed the ball over the bar following a long cross of Nasir.
Azad players explore Ajax defence in the UCB Club Cup Hockey yesterday
MUMIT M
TICKET PRICES
match, which will determine the group championship. In the other game, Rajib Das put Azad ahead in the 24th minute but Nurunnabi Rupom restored the parity in the 51st minute. Ajax will face Usha who earlier defeated Azad 13-1 - in the last group match and the second team from this group will be decided on goal difference. l
14
Leading trio back to business as Ligue 1 resumes
n AFP, Paris
Ligue 1 action resumes today as Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco and Lille pursue their quest to become 2014 French champions following the winter break. Monaco get things started on Friday when they travel to struggling 2012 champions Montpellier looking to erase their three point deficit to PSG, who are in action on Saturday in Corsica at rock bottom Ajaccio. Lille have somehow managed to stay in touch with their financially stronger rivals, after former Montpellier titlewinning coach Rene Girard fashioned a first half of the season that saw them lose just three times in 19 outings. The northern outfit, who last won the French title in 2011 under current Roma boss Rudi Garcia, come into the weekend four points off top spot as they await eighth-placed Reims in the final match on Sunday evening. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
FIXTURES
Montpellier
SATURDAY
v v v v v v v v v v
Monaco PSG Sochaux Toulouse Bastia Saint-Etienne Nice Lorient Marseille Reims
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi celebrates his goal during the Spanish Copa del Rey football match against Getafe at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on Wednesday
AFP
RESULTS
Real Betis Alcorcon
Ruben Castro 42 Pacheco 71
10 10 40 11
a great save from Jose Manuel Pinto to turn away Juan Rodriguezs header to go in ahead at half-time. Barca did finally have the breathing space they craved when Juan Valera upended Pedro inside the area and Fabregas blasted the resulting penalty into the top corner. That set the scene for Messis arrival and he didnt disappoint as he calmly slotted home a loose ball inside the area with his trusted left-foot after Martin Montoya had burst into the Getafe box. The best was still to come, though, as Messi embarked on a trademark run through the Getafe defence before slamming high past Jordi Codina to leave next weeks second leg in Madrid a formality. l
Barcelona
Racing Santander
Concha 65
Corona 27
Almeria
from everything. But now I am back I am excited and desperate to have a great year. I want to keep achieving things, to contribute to our play, help my teammates and hopefully we can achieve our objectives. They will be five very tough months, but we will fight to win everything, as we always do at this club, and then I can think about the national team. Next up for Barcelona is a crucial top of the table clash with Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon on Saturday. l
RESULT
Man City
60
West Ham
It was eight years since West Ham had last won at City and few predicted that their injury-ravaged squad could get a positive result. Bookmakers were offering better odds on City winning 5-0 than any West Ham victory and even Allardyce pre-empted the clash by saying a draw would be a great result. It did not take long for the gulf in class to emerge. West Hams defensive fragility was exposed after 12 minutes as Negredo
Manchester City's Spanish striker Alvaro Negredo (R) scores his second goal during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match against West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester on Wednesday AFP
Manchester United defender Chris Smalling apologised yesterday after a picture emerged of him wearing a suicide bomber costume at a fancy dress party. The front page of Thursdays edition of British tabloid The Sun showed the 24-year-old England international clad in Arab dress, including a head scarf, and with a circuit board and wires strapped to his body. Smalling claimed that the outfit was an attempted comedy play on a drink known as a Jagerbomb, which is a mix of the liqueur Jagermeister and the energy drink Red Bull. l
Smalling sorry for Alex in homophobia row terrorist costume n AFP, Paris backlash against Alex on social media. Here we have the reason why playn AFP, London Paris Saint-Germains former Chelsea ers find it so difficult to come out,
defender Alex has provoked accusations of homophobia by claiming: God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Yves. The Brazilian international, a bornagain Christian, reveals his faith-based disapproval of homosexuality in a documentary on evangelical believers in football by French pay TV company Canal+. The programme was due to be broadcast on Wednesday evening, just hours after Thomas Hitzlsperger became the first German international, and one of only a handful of top footballers worldwide, to come out as gay. The coincidence exacerbated the
wrote @gillypea1978 in one of many tweets on a similar theme. The Canal+ programme also features former PSG defender Marcos Ceara, now an evangelical preacher, who declares: Im not really for homosexuality. For me that is a little out with Gods plan. Alex then delivers his quip about Adam and Eve, according to excerpts from the programme published by French daily Le Parisien. Paris Foot Gay, an organisation which campaigns against homophobia in French football and has a partnership agreement with PSG, played down the significance of Alexs comments. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
QUICK BYTES
SCORECARD, DAY 2
Pakistan 1st innings 165 Khurram Manzoor 73; N. Pradeep 3 62, R. Herath 3 26 Sri Lanka Ist innings (overnight 57 1) D. Karunaratne lbw b Junaid 32 K. Silva lbw b Hafeez 95 K. Sangakkara lbw b Ali 26 D. Chandimal c Ali b Junaid 12 M. Jayawardene not out 106 A. Mathews not out 42 Extras: (b1, lb2, nb1, w1) 5 Total: (for four wkts; 106 overs) 318 Fall of wickets 1 40 (Karunaratne), 2 75 (Sangakkara), 3 88 (Chandimal), 4 227 (Silva). Bowling Junaid 26 5 75 2, Ali 26 5 109 1, Ajmal 27 9 45 0, Bhatti 21 2 75 0 (1nb, 1w), Hafeez 6 1 11 1
Womens singles (Semi-finals) Pironkova bt Kvitova 6 4, 6 Kerber bt Keys 6 4, 6 Mens singles (Quarter-finals) Del Potro bt Stepanek 6 4, 3 6, 6 Tursunov bt Istomin 7 6 (7/5), 6
RESULTS
3 2 3 2
reluctant to change to a new one before the years first grand slam. Fiery Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis famously destroyed four of his racquets during a loss against Swiss Stanislas Waw-
rinka at the 2012 Australian Open, and Del Potro said he had been similarly tempted when struggling against Stepanek. Defending champion Bernard Tomic strolled past Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4 6-3 and will meet another Ukrainian in Sergiy Stakhovsky in the other semi-final. Despite crashing out of the semi-finals to 107th ranked Tsvetana Pironkova, second seed and former Wimbledon champion Kvitova was relaxed about her 6-4 6-3 loss three days ahead of the start at Melbourne Park. Pironkova, a one-time Wimbledon semi-finalist, is the first qualifier to reach the Sydney final and will battle German Angelique Kerber, who swatted aside Madison Keys in straight sets, for the title. l
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 7:00AM New York v Miami 9:90AM Denver v Oklahoma City 12:00PM Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 3 Star Sports 1 2:40PM Big Bash T20 Sydney Sixers v Perth Scorchers Ten Sports Hero Hockey World League Final 2:30PM Australia v Belgium 4:30PM Netherlands v Argentina 6:30PM Germany v New Zealand 8:30PM England v India 01:45AM Sky Bet Cship 2013/14 Leicester City v Derby County Ten Golf 5:00PM Volvo Golf Champions Durban, SA, Day 2 Ten Action 1:30AM French Ligue 1 2013/14 Montpellier v AS Monaco Ten HD 2:30PM Apia International Sydney, Final 10:00PM Ram Slam T20 Challenge Knights v Dolphins Star Sports 4 2:00AM La LIga Granada v Real Valladolid
PMs XI Brett Lee (capt), Jackson Bird, Ben Cutting, Peter Handscomb, Brad Hodge, Chris Lynn, Alister McDermott, James Muirhead, Luke Pomersbach, Clive Rose, Michael Spaseski. 12th man Shane Devoy.
he can hit a ball as cleanly as anyone. National selector John Inverarity said Hodge and Lee had plenty still to offer Australian cricket. This match is a special fixture on the Australian cricketing calendar. Brett Lee and Brad Hodge bring leadership and experience to the team and will be great drawcards, Inverarity said. Chris Lynn has been in excellent form this season in all forms of the game. Jackson Bird is recovering well from injury and we are keen to increase his workload. l
SQUAD
BRIEF SCORE
Adelaide Strikers 90/9 in 20 over Micheal Klinger 42, Kane Richardson 21, Shakib al Hasan 2 James Faulkner 9/3, Lasith Malinga 8/2 Melbourne Stars 91/2 in 7.3 over Luke Wright 49, Glenn Maxwell 25* Shakib al Hasan 10/0 Melboure Stars won by eight wickets
Ludeman making the highest of six runs among them. Shakib, who came in with the Strikers reeling at 41-4, was lucky not to return with a duck as the left-handed lofted a full and wide Lasith Malinga delivery to mid-on region but Hastings diving effort saw the catch went down. However, he didnt survive much longer as he came down the track to Luke Wright in the next over only to hit straight to the man at deep backward point. The Strikers eventually posted only 90 runs losing nine wickets which the Melbourne Stars achieved in just 7.3 overs after English Wright played a blistering 20-ball 49 at the top. Shakib bowled only one over and gave away 10 runs. Adelaide Strikers will face Perth Scorchers on January 16 and Shakib is expected to return to Bangladesh after the match to join the national team for the home series against Sri Lanka from January 27. l
World Number 1 Serena Williams (L) and sister Venus (R) of the US play cricket on the rooftop of a city hotel during a media event for the upcoming Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne yesterday AFP
Melbourne Park next week. Last year, an injury-hit campaign ended with defeat to young fellow American Sloane Stephens in the quarter-finals. But Czech-American great Navratilova believes Williams is not only poised to equal her career Grand Slam haul, but could even catch Steffi Grafs Open-era record of 22. l
Australian Open
2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004
Womens singles champions Victoria Azarenka V Azarenka K Clijsters S Williams S Williams M Sharapova S Williams A Mauresmo S Williams J Henin BLR BLR BEL USA USA RUS USA FRA USA BEL
Tennis player Sabine Lisicki of Germany holds a python during a publicity event for the upcoming Australian Open tennis at Melbourne Park yesterday. The Australian Open tennis tournament begins on January 13 REUTERS
16
RANA PLAZA COLLAPSE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
Members of over a hundred families in Khatriyapara of Sundarganj upazila, Gaibandha, guard the area in groups in the wake of recent attacks by Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists. The photo was taken late on Wednesday night FOCUS BANGLA
Reborn like a phoenix: 2 arson victims leave DMCH 1,727 killed in workplace n accidents in 2013
Moniruzzaman Uzzal
Two arson attack victims who left Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday after completing their treatment, have compared their recovery with being reborn, and called for a stop to all petrol bomb attacks. It feels like a rebirth to me. It was beyond my imagination that I would survive. By the grace of God I have got a new life, said Gita Sen, who fell victim to an arson attack on November 28 last year. Before leaving the burns and plastic surgery unit yesterday, she said: We build veterinary hospitals to save animals lives, but some of us [humans] try to kill other humans in the name of politics. Please do not throw petrol bombs to kill us. We do not do any politics, said Gita, who was burnt along with her daughter while riding on a bus near Shahbagh. Recollecting her experience, Gita said: Within a few seconds I saw my skin get burnt. I was in so much pain throughout my whole body. No one could imagine how much pain Ive had to suffer over the last month. Gita Sen was praised by the media and citizens for her comments to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, where she said: We people elect you prime minister, but you do not create us. On the other hand, Md Abu Mia, a truck driver who fell victim to an arson attack at Chittagong on December 24, was also released from the burn unit yesterday. He echoed Gita and called for a stop to the practice of throwing life-threatening petrol bombs. Abu Mia told the Dhaka Tribune: Although it was the blockade, I had to drive the truck to earn money for my family. I have no connection with anybodys politics; so why was I the victim of such violence? Gita and Abu Mia expressed their views at a meet-the-press programme, organised by the DMCH authority on the eve of their returning home. Prof Dr Md Sazzad Khondokar, a plastic surgeon, said 298 people had been burnt during blockades and hartals since October 26; among whom 98 were admitted as in-patients of the burn unit, while 22 had died. Until January 9, 46 people had returned home after receiving treatment, 30 more remained admitted at the hospital, while all except two are out of danger. Dr Samanta Lal Sen, adviser to the burns unit, said: In my 40 years experience with burn patients I had never seen such types of victims. He said most of the petrol bomb victims suffered inhalation damage, which was 50 to 60 times riskier than the conditions of normal burn patients. Brigadier General Mustafizur Rahman, director of the DMCH, said the burn unit is trying to provide the best possible treatment to burn patients despite all the limitations, he added. The director also claimed that the hospital was providing the arson victims with all-out support, including the provision of medicine and other things free of cost. Zulfikar Ali Lenin, director of Prime Ministers Office (PMO), told journalists that the prime minister was aware about the need to ensure proper treatment for the arson attack victims. Lenin said he had been directed by the premier to communicate regularly with the burn unit, and to provide the best help he could, adding that the PMO has a plan to reintegrate the arson attack victims back into society. l
n Tribune Report
At least 1,727 workers were killed, and 2,307 injured, in workplace accidents that took place during the year 2013, said a press release issued by the Bangladesh Occupational Safety, Health and Environment Foundation (OSHE). Among the deceased, 1,401 workers were killed in accidents in the formal sector, while the remaining 326 killed were working in informal sector at the time. The information was gathered in a survey of the OSHE that was accumulated from monitoring fifteen leading national daily newspapers of the country and reports of [OSHE] field offices in
different parts of the country, said the press release. However, workplace accidents shot up in garments, construction, agricultural and ship breaking industries, it added. In formal sectors, casualties are high in the garment sector, which experienced 1,170 deaths and 1,748 injuries. The Rana Plaza building collapse alone saw death of 1,135 and injury of 1,248 workers. More than 26 workers were killed in accidents in the ship-breaking sector, while 40 sustained injuries. In informal sectors, the agricultural sector saw the death of 100, and injury of 27. Lightning killed most of agricultural workers who died. l
The vested property that was not under the control of the government was under Schedule Kha. The law was not implemented in the capital.
The signatories to the statement included Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendro Sultana Kamal, Coordinator of Aso Nijera Kori Khushi Kabir, President of Vested Property Act Protest Movement Kamal Lohani and its General Secretary Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, General Secretary of Bangladesh Hindu Bouddha Christian Oikya Parishad Advocate Rana Dasgupta, Honorary Director of Bangladesh Legal Aid Services Trust Sara Hossain, Prof Abul Barakat of Dhaka University, Executive Director of Association for Land Reform and Development Shamsul Huda, General Secretary of Sommilito Samajik Andolon Advocate Tobarok Hossain and General Secretary of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad Manindra Kumar Nath. l
A view of broken window glass in a factory after a clash between the workers of Korean EPZ and police in Chittagong yesterday. A female worker died during the clash DHAKA TRIBUNE from Anwara upazila, had a severe injury to her head. Twelve other workers Kajol Das, 28, Ruzi Akhter, 18, Monjur, 18, Tania, 17, Morshed, 22, Joni, 22, Nobi Hossain, 22, Tipu, 19, Md Sohel, 22, Roksana, 22, Md Jasim, 28, Jahangir, 25, three policemen, Constable Chandmoni, Raton Dewan and Abdul Matin and a security guard, Tajibur Rahman, 38, were admitted to CMCH. Din Mohammad, a worker at the KSI factory who was also injured during the clash, told the Dhaka Tribune at CMCH that they were given about Tk1,000Tk1,200 less than their salary under the new pay scale. In addition to paying less, the authorities have also increased our lunch bill from Tk52 to Tk650 per month, said Jahedul Islam, a cutting helper of the factory. The lunch bull is deducted from their salary. Sohel, another worker of the factory, said their transport allowance had been reduced from Tk450 to Tk200, and the company was implementing the new wage board by reducing other facilities. No official from Youngone or KSI could be reached to comment on the issue, even after repeated attempts by phone. Nasir Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, the first vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), told the Dhaka Tribune that they were instructing the garment factory owners to pay the workers under new wage board. The owners have been facing various problems including the political unrest, he said, but added that they were optimistic about overcoming the situation within a short time. Earlier, at least 38 persons, including eight policemen, were injured in a clash between the RMG workers and police at Chittagong Export Processing Zone area in the city on January 4, when the workers staged a demo demanding implementation of the new wage board. l
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shake up shopping
Subscribers who abandoned connections owe Tk100cr as due bills since 1997 call details information and try to conn Muhammad Zahidul Islam tact with those subscribers who have
dues. If the agent failed to collect any information of his or her details or not able to detect them, then they will try to find out that subscribers using information from the related FnF numbers and later on it will try to contact directly with the original subscribers, said the sources. But it is learnt the regulator has already raised a question on the issue of confidentiality of subscribers personal information. To address this issue, GP has already assured the telecom watchdog of signing a non-discloser agreement with the agent to make sure that there would be no misuse or leakage of information by the agent. According to GPs proposal, if needed to collect the outstanding bills the third party will be allowed to perform duties such as visiting the customer physically, phone follow up, SMS and letter through E-mail follow up with that particular customer. As soon as GP got approval from BTRC, subscribers who have outstanding bills will also get a notice from GP within a short time. One the other hand, lots of subscribers have deposited thousands of taka as security money for every connection although the connections are not active currently. BTRC has already reportedly questioned the GP to know the whereabouts of such huge amount of money which has long been remained with GP as security money. BTRC is going to issue a letter to all the operators asking them to inform it about the figure of the deposited security money and also to take necessary steps to refund the money back to the respective subscribers. l
As the DITF begins tomorrow, a participating company making hectic efforts to complete construction of its stall. The photo was taken yesterday from the fair venue at Sher-e-Bangla MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Nagar, Dhaka
Entry deadline for SME business plan competition extended n Tribune Report
Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation has extended the deadline to February 15 for submission of business plans to participate in the National SME Business Plan Competition 2013. The Foundation had announced the competition on September 25 to encourage the young people to get engaged with entrepreneurial activities. The deadline that expired on December 31 last has been extended following appeal from the intended competitors, said a statement yesterday. The interested participants could download the application forms from the Foundations website (www.smef. org.bd) or collect it from the Foundation office and submit the proposals by February 15. Applications could be submitted individually or in group consisting of not more than four members. There will be a selection committee which, after scrutiny and assessment of the applications, will pick up 150 competitors. l
Exports rise 17% despite DITF BEGINS TOMORROW Exhibitors fear poor turnout political unrest n
n
Tribune Report
The countrys export earnings rose 16.6% to US$14.68bn in the first half of the current fiscal year, despite growing political turmoil and continuous RMG labour unrest over their wage hike. The earnings were $12.6bn in the July-December period of last year. In December, exports rose to $2.72bn, which is 10.5% higher compared to $2.46bn for the same month last year, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) statistics. But the growth in December went down compared to the 25.34% growth in November last year. The figure is 4% higher than the target of $2.6bn set for the month. RMG export posted over 20% growth to nearly $12bn in the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the same period of last years value of $10bn. The knitwear and woven garments, the two largest export earners, posted 19.5% and 20% growth respectively, followed by frozen foods 30%, shrimps 34%, Vegetables 35%, footwear 35% and leather 44% in July-December period compared to same period of the last year. Jute and jute products marked over 17% fall, which was followed by home textiles 6%, ships, boats and floating structures 93%. Among the major sectors, knitwear earned the highest amount of over $5.9bn, followed by woven garments nearly $6bn in the first half of the current fiscal. Footwear exports fetched $285m, frozen foods $377m and leather $239m during the period. The export growth is good but the cost of doing business has been increased due to the political unrest, which cast bad impact on profit margin, said Mustasfizur Rahman, executive director of Centre for Policy Dialogue. We are yet to face the adverse impact of the latest RMG factory disaster and the political unrest. But if it continues further, Bangladesh will have to face the consequence, he warned. Although the earnings went up, the RMG sector is now facing a critical situation, said Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh (EAB). Export earnings in December do not reflect the real scenario of the RMG sector as these orders were placed in June, from which, the country earned foreign exchange during last month, he added. l
The 19th Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) begins tomorrow amid fears of low turnout of visitors and poor sales as the country has hit hard by the ongoing political unrest that already battered the entire economy. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to formally inaugurate the month-long fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital on Saturday. The annual regular event popularly known as DIFT was scheduled to start from January 1, as usual, but the commerce ministry had to differ it to January 11, following a request from 100 participants in the wake of the political unrest. Now, starting on January 11, the fair will continue up to February 11. In the fair, there will have 462 stalls and pavilions, where local and foreign manufacturers will display their products to attract buyers. A total of 32 foreign participants will join to display their products to Bangladesh people and global buyers who visit the fair.
We are going to deploy Bangladesh Boarder Guard (BGB) along with police, RAB and Ansar battalion to ensure security to the visitors of the fair, AFM Manjur Kadir, secretary of Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), told the Dhaka Tribune. All the preparations have been done to begin the biggest show to display products to buyers from home and abroad, he added. Earlier, we were confused about the turnout of visitors under the previous political turmoil situation but now we are confident about a positive turnout as the political situation is gradually improving, said Manjur Kadir. He, however, hinted that there might have little impact of political unrest on the fair. We are worried about the sale volume as the visitors turnout may go down due to the political unrest, said Mohammad Delwar Hossain, Senior Manager Marketing of Beximco. We are also fearing poor selling this year as the overall financial condition of the country are not healthy, he added. The main aim of our participation is just to display and promote our products to customers and not to sale, said
Humayun Kabir, Executive Director of Walton. But the escalating political turmoil has already been poised as a big problem for us but we have to march forward keeping aside all the odds to achieve our economic goals, he added. We are very much optimistic about the presence of the visitors but again the visitors turnout might face a setback this year as visitors from outside Dhaka wont be able to join the fair due to the ongoing blockade being enforced by the opposition political parties, said Kabir. We are hopeful about the success of the fair as alike as the previous years as we have already taken all the necessary steps to avert any untoward incidents and to provide full-fledge security to the visitors, said EPB vice chairman, Shubhashish Bose. As like as the previous years, Pakistan will join DIFT this year too, as there has been no direction from the commerce ministry to ask them to refrain from participating the fair, said Bose when asked about the demand of the Ganajagran Mancha for putting a ban on Pakistani stalls in the trade fair. l
STOCKS
DSEX DS30 CSEX 4407.83 1555.61 8663.45 0.38% 0.79% 0.55%
EXCHANGE RATES
Average selling rates to public in BDT Banks Rupali Bank Currencies SELL BUY USD 77.4 78.4 EURO INR SAR 104.5782 1.1738 20.5372 107.7893 1.3301 21.0044 Sonali Bank SELL BUY 77.4 104.5837 1.17 20.5335 78.4 107.0074 1.27 21.0095
B2
Stocks edge higher amid volatility
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change)
Investors stood watchful pondering about future movements as a new government is setting in breaking through the near term ren Kayes Sohel sistance level of 4,440 points.
Stocks edged higher amid volatility yesterday, extending the gaining streak for the third consecutive sessions. The market was in the positive territory but intra-day market volatility was 37 points. The benchmark DSEX closed at 4,407 with a marginal rise of 16 points or 0.4%, hitting highest 4,428 in the morning and lowest 4,391 in the mid-session. The DS30 Index comprising blue chips gained 12 points or 0.8% to 1,555. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, rose 53 points to 8,668. Investor participation in trading declined slightly to just over Tk500 crore, which was 4.1% lower from previous session. While the 10th national parliament took oath, initially vibrant market sentiment sedated to a flat mode. Investors stood watchful pondering about future movements as a new government is setting in, said IDLC Investment in its market analysis. Nevertheless, investors remained buoyant over fuel and power sector for the third straight days and pushed it to be the top gaining sector. Lanka Bangla Securities said market remained in bull grip for the third consecutive trading session
Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Meghna PET Ind. -Z GeminiSeaFood-Z Paramount Textile Ltd.-N Apex SpinningA ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A BD Building Systems -A Northern Jute -Z Meghna Petroleum -A
9.32 7.41 6.82 6.43 6.37 5.26 5.18 5.13 4.97 4.87
Average (% change)
Closing average
Closing
Daily high
Daily low
Turnover in million
Latest EPS
Latest PE
9.32 2.10 7.38 5.66 4.32 3.71 4.67 5.46 4.22 4.35
12.90 8.75 9.46 140.00 54.30 75.19 26.45 73.55 65.00 234.38
12.90 8.70 9.40 140.60 55.10 76.00 26.40 73.80 65.50 236.80
12.90 8.90 9.60 142.00 55.90 76.40 26.50 75.00 68.60 238.50
12.90 8.40 9.10 137.00 52.40 72.60 26.00 64.00 62.40 220.00
1.600 0.056 1.258 0.350 95.183 0.797 0.582 143.060 0.026 205.075
-4.60 -5.64 -0.52 -15.39 3.00 1.72 6.44 3.28 -10.24 25.08
-ve -ve -ve -ve 18.1 43.7 4.1 22.4 -ve 9.3
CSE GAINERS
Currently, declining inert-bank rates, increasing investment in the government savings instruments are stemming the private sector investment and indicating lower demand for credit, it said. BBs consideration of expansionary and balanced monetary policy statement for H2 FY2014 is the most important trigger point for capital market. Pharmaceuticals sector was the next most gaining sector, keeping its seven-day gaining streak. Other major sectors ended in green, excepting banks and telecommunications that edged lower. The engineering sector continued to dominate the trading driven by Bangladesh Building, Bengal Windsor and Thermoplastics, and Olympic Industries, as it accounted for more than 19% of the total market turnover. The market breadth remained positive as out of 280 issues traded, 167 advanced, 85 declined and 38 remained unchanged. Golden Son was the most traded stock of the session with a turnover of Tk20 crore. It was followed by Meghan Petroleum, Lanka Bangla Finance, Summit Purbanchol Power Company, Bangladesh Building, Bengal Windsor and Thermoplastics and Square Pharmaceuticals. l
173
Company Apex SpinningA Paramount Textile Ltd.-N Meghna Petroleum -A BD Building Systems -A Olympic Ind. -A Padma Oil Co. -A Usmania Glass -Z Delta Brac HFCL A Jamuna Oil -A Safko Spinning-A
Closing (% change) 8.55 6.12 5.86 5.58 4.68 4.43 3.86 3.42 3.02 3.00
110
2,126.15
Average (% change) 7.20 3.71 4.78 5.72 4.11 3.82 3.90 3.45 2.64 2.47
Closing average 74.85 54.44 235.48 73.57 160.15 294.86 140.00 59.38 208.14 30.74
Closing 74.90 55.50 238.30 73.80 161.20 294.40 140.00 60.40 208.00 30.90
Daily high 74.90 56.00 239.00 75.00 164.90 299.50 140.00 61.00 210.00 31.40
Daily low 74.80 52.80 228.90 71.20 155.80 288.80 140.00 57.10 205.00 30.00
Turnover in million 0.030 22.537 7.681 14.646 4.324 9.465 0.007 0.564 3.218 0.476
Latest EPS 1.72 3.00 25.08 3.28 6.32 27.28 5.68 4.72 20.40 1.12
Latest PE 43.5 18.1 9.4 22.4 25.3 10.8 24.6 12.6 10.2 27.4
25.77
93
(+) 0.38% (+) 0.79% (+) 0.55% (+) 0.80% (+) 0.55%
Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
2,037.25
24.69
4th ICB M F A Kohinoor Chem -A Dulamia CottonZ Imam Button -Z Rahim Textile -A Samata LeatheR -Z BDCOM Online-A 5th ICB M F A 1st ICB M F -A
CSE LOSERS Company I P D C -A Aramit -A AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A Imam Button -Z ICB AMCL 2nd NRB -A Rupali Life Insur.-A BDCOM Online-A Hakkani P& Paper -B Fine Foods A S.B. 1st M. F.-A
-7.60 -6.32 -3.97 -3.45 -3.45 -3.10 -3.10 -2.33 -2.32 -2.22
Closing (% change) -4.90 -4.44 -4.11 -3.23 -3.03 -2.99 -2.96 -2.60 -2.50 -2.47
Average (% change)
Closing average
Closing
Daily high
Daily low
Turnover in million
Latest EPS
Latest PE
-8.85 -6.99 -3.98 -4.37 -1.72 -2.57 -3.67 -1.40 -0.99 -2.22
79.00 190.00 350.89 8.31 8.55 232.06 28.06 29.58 173.33 880.00
Closing average 19.42 341.07 7.00 9.01 9.66 118.95 29.46 33.70 23.54 7.93
79.00 191.10 351.00 8.40 8.40 231.10 28.10 29.40 172.50 880.00
79.00 191.20 365.00 8.50 8.80 238.00 28.30 30.40 172.60 880.00
79.00 191.10 338.00 8.00 8.40 230.00 27.60 27.10 172.50 880.00
0.016 0.038 0.790 0.064 0.355 2.251 1.319 4.097 0.104 0.044
Turnover in million 0.175 0.171 0.318 0.072 0.048 1.725 0.354 0.051 1.686 0.203
1.44 35.20 9.80 -1.90 -2.20 1.52 -0.08 1.68 16.96 60.76
Latest EPS 0.91 11.53 0.60 -2.20 2.00 5.33 1.68 0.44 0.05 0.84
54.9 5.4 35.8 -ve -ve 152.7 -ve 17.6 10.2 14.5
Latest PE 21.3 29.6 11.7 -ve 4.8 22.3 17.5 76.6 470.8 9.4
Dividend/AGM
Average (% change) -4.80 -4.17 -4.11 -3.01 -1.93 -0.92 -0.77 -1.66 -2.04 -1.00
Closing 19.40 340.10 7.00 9.00 9.60 116.80 29.50 33.70 23.40 7.90
Daily high 19.60 345.00 7.00 9.70 9.80 120.60 29.70 34.20 24.10 8.00
Daily low 19.20 335.00 6.90 8.60 9.60 116.50 29.20 33.10 23.40 7.90
ANALYST
While the 10th national parliament took oath, initially vibrant market sentiment sedated to a flat mode. Investors stood watchful pondering about future movements as a new government is setting in
Volume shares
DSE Million Taka 378.48 487.54 86.23 972.40 250.44 837.93 1.44 703.03 502.90 0.39 41.25 85.80 39.78 145.93 35.87 75.69 123.06 128.65 122.58 156.25 0.22
% change 7.31 9.42 1.67 18.79 4.84 16.19 0.03 13.58 9.72 0.01 0.80 1.66 0.77 2.82 0.69 1.46 2.38 2.49 2.37 3.02 0.00
Million Taka 33.14 46.47 8.46 127.59 28.44 59.39 74.84 36.49 0.05 4.91 3.75 7.81 13.49 8.04 3.84 13.13 10.10 20.81 29.40 0.01
CSE
% change 6.25 8.77 1.60 24.07 5.36 11.20 0.00 14.12 6.88 0.01 0.93 0.71 1.47 2.54 1.52 0.72 2.48 1.91 3.93 5.54 0.00
Million Taka 411.62 534.01 94.69 1100.00 278.88 897.32 1.44 777.86 539.38 0.44 46.16 89.55 47.59 159.41 43.91 79.52 136.19 138.75 143.39 185.65 0.23
Total
% change 7.21 9.36 1.66 19.28 4.89 15.73 0.03 13.63 9.45 0.01 0.81 1.57 0.83 2.79 0.77 1.39 2.39 2.43 2.51 3.25 0.00
Meghna Petroleum -A LankaBangla Fin. -A S Purbanchol Power-N BD Building Systems -A Bengal Windsor-N Square Pharma -A Generation Next-A UCBL - A Olympic Ind. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Padma Oil Co. -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N BATBCL -A
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company
3,054,307 874,978 2,678,869 2,631,620 1,945,150 1,991,224 617,100 3,129,360 4,339,139 673,500 2,873,600 2,791,052 325,317 1,753,000 50,450
Value in million
207.43 205.08 201.96 188.05 143.06 131.90 124.55 116.20 112.29 107.35 105.51 101.65 95.84 95.18 88.24
% of total turnover
4.01 3.96 3.90 3.63 2.76 2.55 2.41 2.25 2.17 2.07 2.04 1.96 1.85 1.84 1.70
Daily closing
68.20 236.80 75.80 71.00 73.80 65.70 202.40 36.80 25.90 160.30 36.60 36.40 295.00 55.10 1651.90
Price change
0.74 4.87 -0.13 2.90 5.13 1.55 1.30 -0.54 1.17 3.75 0.00 1.11 4.17 6.37 -0.58
Daily opening
67.70 225.80 75.90 69.00 70.20 64.70 199.80 37.00 25.60 154.50 36.60 36.00 283.20 51.80 1661.60
68.80 238.50 76.80 73.00 75.00 67.10 203.00 37.70 26.50 164.80 37.30 37.50 298.00 55.90 1750.00
Daily high
61.00 220.00 70.00 65.00 64.00 58.40 185.00 34.00 23.50 147.00 36.50 33.00 280.00 52.40 1632.10
Daily low
Daily average
67.91 234.38 75.39 71.46 73.55 66.24 201.84 37.13 25.88 159.40 36.72 36.42 294.60 54.30 1749.12
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
Appollo Ispat CL -N Golden Son -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LankaBangla Fin. -A UNITED AIR A Bengal Windsor-N S Purbanchol Power-N Generation Next-A BD Building Systems -A UCBL - A Beach Hatchery -A Padma Oil Co. -A BSRM Steels-A
Volume shares
942,800 463,060 414,000 532,194 225,500 960,495 237,288 215,090 409,820 199,075 408,837 305,000 32,100 115,050
Value in million
34.67 31.51 22.54 19.36 17.03 16.42 15.74 15.37 15.26 14.65 10.57 9.55 9.47 8.61
% of total turnover
6.54 5.94 4.25 3.65 3.21 3.10 2.97 2.90 2.88 2.76 1.99 1.80 1.79 1.61
Daily closing
36.60 68.10 55.50 36.40 76.00 17.10 66.30 70.90 37.00 73.80 25.90 30.90 294.40 75.20
Price change
0.00 0.29 6.12 1.11 -0.26 0.59 2.47 2.75 -0.27 5.58 1.17 -2.22 4.43 3.72
Daily opening
36.60 67.90 52.30 36.00 76.20 17.00 64.70 69.00 37.10 69.90 25.60 31.60 281.90 72.50
37.20 68.80 56.00 37.00 77.90 17.30 67.50 72.70 37.90 75.00 26.00 32.50 299.50 75.50
Daily high
36.50 67.00 52.80 36.00 74.60 17.00 65.00 70.30 36.90 71.20 25.60 30.70 288.80 74.00
Daily low
Daily average
36.77 68.04 54.44 36.38 75.54 17.10 66.34 71.45 37.24 73.57 25.86 31.30 294.86 74.83
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
Junk stock top gainer
n Tribune Business Desk
Meghna Condensed Milk Industries Limited was the highest gainer at the Dhaka Stock Exchange yesterday, despite poor fundamentals. Its shares registered gain of 9.3% to Tk12.9 each. The offer value of the Z-category share is Tk10 each. Its turnover stood more than Tk15 lakh, making up 0.03% of the total DSE turnover. According to its first quarter unaudited statement (July to Sept 2013), the company incurred a loss of Tk1.84 crore from Tk1.27 crore in the same period a year ago. The figure shows its losses increased by 45% due to high administrative and financing costs, according to the companys balance sheet. The excessive administrative costs are due to higher depreciation costs as stated in the annual report for the year 2012. The companys accumulated losses stood at Tk102.6 crore as on September 30, 2013. The stock registered 61.25% rise in prices in last two weeks. l
A 3D printer is displayed in the " 3D Print Show" exhibition in Paris Think of it as laying microscopic bricks; layers and layers of these bricks, said Roger Chang, chief executive of Singapore-based Pirate 3D, which makes a Buccaneer home printer that sells for $497. Eventually, if you put enough bricks you get a building. Brooklyn-based MakerBot was the
AFP
only 3D printer company at CES five years ago. Now, it is surrounded by rivals on a large section of show floor devoted to the trend. We feel like this is the year of 3D printing, MakerBot spokeswoman Jenifer Howard told AFP. Now, entrepreneurs without major financial backing can create proto-
Correction
A report titled Gemini worst loser as it turns junk stock published in the Dhaka Tribune on January 7 had a mistake about the companys holding AGM. The report wrongly mentioned that the company was placed in Z category from A category because the management has failed to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) in the year 2013. In fact, the companys AGM was held on December 30, 2013, the Gemini Sea Food Ltd said in a rejoinder yesterday. We regret the inadvertent mistake. l
Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (right) greets journalist Katie Couric on stage during Mayer's keynote speech at the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas REUTERS While Yahoos revenue growth has yet to pick up under Mayers leadership, the 38-year-old CEO has brought pizzazz back to an Internet brand considered by many to be past its prime. More than an hour before she appeared onstage, a long queue for Mayer snaked through several continuous hallways into a nearby showfloor at the Las Vegas Hilton, where Mayer and other keynote speakers were slated to speak. During her talk, Mayer was joined onstage by celebrity news anchor Katie Couric, a recent Yahoo hire who will provide original video programs on the website. Yahoo also unveiled new digital magazines focused on technology and on food on Tuesday, as well as a mobile app that provides short, summarized versions of the days news. Yahoo also said it was rolling out improvements to its advertising business, to make it easier for marketers to buy ads and to target different portions of Yahoos audience. Shares of Yahoo, which have gained more than 160% since Mayer took over in 2012, were up 19 cents at $41.11 in extended trading on Tuesday. l
Grameenphone (GP) signed an agreement with Meghna Bank (MB) to provide complete communications solutions under its Business Solutions package recently. MB Managing Director Kaiser A Chowdhury and GP CMO Allan Bonke signed the aggrement on behalf of their respective organisations. MB VP and Head of GSD Syed Fazle Imam and GP HoDS Sajjad Alam were also present on the occassion.
Trust Bank Limited (TBL) Deputy Managing Director Abu Zafar Hedaytul Islam and ARS Bangladesh Executive Director Shamsul Alam signed an agreement on Renewable Energy Financing in Rural Areas recently. Among others, TBL EVP and Head of CRM, T I M Syed Mansur Mostofa, Head of SME and Green Banking Rawshan Zadeed and other senior officials of both the organisations were present.
B4
TELECOM SECTOR
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
Although there were many lapses in the telecom sector, the country witnessed a boom in the number of mobile users in five years since 2009 DHAKA TRIBUNE
posed to be held in January 2009. The caretaker government, from which the AL-led grand alliance took office after a landslide victory in 2008, initiated the 3G efforts. But BTRCs subsequent dilly-dallying for 3G left the country far behind compared to others including neighbouring India. We dont know why there was a delay of five years, said a top BTRC official. Yet, the country witnessed a boom in mobile and internet users during these five years, taking the number of active mobile subscribers from 4.46 crore to 11.17 crore. During the period, the internet users also increased from
few lakhs to 4 crore. But the experts say the service has improved only vertically, not horizontally. While India and Pakistan launched its own satellite in 1980 and 1990, Bangladesh still lacks such a one and counts on foreign satellites. As per the last caretaker governments plan, the country was supposed to have its own satellite by 2013. But the AL-led grand alliance government could not even place development project proposal in its five years and failed to find a financier. After the care taker government applied for orbital slot to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the
elected AL-led government only appointed a consultation firm and could do nothing else. Now there is no possibility of own satellite in the next couple of years though the government plans, official sources said, to make it by June 2016. Launching of own satellite is a part of the governments ICT Policy 2009, which will cost more than Tk3,000 crore. Except for the appointment of consultation firm and changing the name to Bangabandhu Satellite, the government could do nothing else in five years, said a high official of BTRC. However, the government made a substantial progress to connect the country to a second submarine cable SEA ME WE 5. This is expected to be launched by January 2015, according to officials. Meanwhile, providing Wi-max licence to Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd (BIEL) raised controversies as the operator was given mobile spectrum instead of Wi-max spectrum. BTRC is facing a legal suit in this regard. The licence was given with 20 megahertz mobile spectrum at Tk246 crore although the market price is nearly Tk3,500 crore. Recently, in a write-up, Telecom
Minister Rashed Khan Menon claimed that AL-led grand alliance government gave first licence to Wi-max operators. But the fact is that the last caretaker government held Wi-max auction on September 24, 2008 and gave licence to Banglalion and Qubee. The government awarded gateway licences to 85 operators, while most of licencees were politically linked with the ruling party. Seven of them recently closed their
NEWS IN BRIEF
China inflation hits 7-month low, eases tightening fears
Chinas annual consumer inflation slowed more sharply than expected to a seven-month low of 2.5% in December, easing market fears of monetary policy tightening although the central bank is tapping the brakes on bank liquidity. Reuters
Emerging Asian currencies will likely stabilise against the dollar this year on the back of improved economic activity and despite the US Federal Reserve reducing its stimulus, a Reuters poll showed. Still, any gains will likely be muted compared with the steep falls these currencies had last year. The poll of more than 50 foreign exchange analysts conducted this week showed the Indonesian rupiah is expected to gain the most, about 3%, followed by a 2% rise in the Taiwan dollar. The Chinese yuan, which rose 2.9% last year, will likely gain another 1.7% in 2014 on expectations the countrys
central bank will widen the trading band. Asian markets weathered the Fed tapering announcement well at the end of 2013, said Tiina Helenius, economist at Handelsbanken. While emerging market currencies will stay soft for some time, she expects stronger economic growth and reduced fear about the Feds stimulus-tapering to limit the downside. However, the poll showed Asian currencies will perform better in the second half of the year, coinciding with expectations of a pick-up in the regions economic activity. The Fed announced in December it would reduce its monthly stimulus by $10bn in January. Markets expect it to
gradually reduce cut its asset-buying by a similar amount at each meeting shutting the programme by the end of this year. While that is expected to support the dollar, analysts said central banks and governments in emerging markets are better prepared to handle any outflow of money this time around. In 2013, most emerging markets from Brazil to Turkey to India and Indonesia were caught off-guard as investors dumped assets there after the Fed signalled in May it would begin cutting bank on its $85bn a month bond purchases.
losses with a fall of 21% against the US dollar while the Indian rupee weakened slightly more than 11%. Both countries were hurt by concerns they are highly dependent on foreign money to fund their high current account deficits. Indonesia and India will have elections in the first half of this year and analysts said the outcomes will likely affect their currencies.
The developed world still matters for the regions external demand, hence the firming trend in the imports of G3 countries is a clear positive sign for Asian exports this year
'The Little Eye Labs technology will help us to continue improving our Android codebase to make more efficient, higherperforming apps'
The Little Eye Labs technology will help us to continue improving our Android codebase to make more efficient, higher-performing apps, Subbu Subramanian, Facebooks engineering manager said. The deal, the social networking giants first in India, could likely boost interest in the countrys startups. Bangalore-based Little Eye Labs team will move to Facebooks headquarters in Menlo Park, California, the company said in a statement on its website. We released our official version of Little Eye for Android in early April of this year, and since then we have had many Android developers and testers using Little Eye Labs to measure, analyze, and optimize their apps performance, the company said. The one-year old company is backed by GSF and VenturEast Tenet Fund. l
REUTERS
When the rupee fell at 68.85 to the dollar in August, it had probably reached the nadir in real effective exchange rate terms, wrote analysts at BTMU in a note to clients last week on the FX outlook for 2014. The poll showed the rupee will likely trade at 62.40 in one month, 63.00 in six months and 62.00 by December, roughly near Thursdays spot rate, on account of an improvement in the governments finances. The South Korean won is expected to gain in the next three months but will likely lose 0.6% by the end of the year, as a weaker Japanese yen hampers prospects for Korean exports. The Thai baht, after losing about 7% in 2013, is seen gaining some 0.8% in 2014. While weak currencies exacerbated import costs for regional countries during a time of tepid domestic demand, analysts now expect these to help boost exports in 2014 on the back of a stronger recovery in the US. The export-driven Asian economies are showing some response to firming global activity and stabilising Chinese growth, said Helenius of Handelsbanken. The developed world still matters for the regions external demand, hence the firming trend in the imports of G3 countries is a clear positive sign for Asian exports this year, she said. l