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Stray incidents of violence in 10 districts mark the first phase of the upazila polls
BNP Awami League Jamaat-e-Islami Independent UPDF Jatiya Party PCJSS Total
*Unofficial Sources
42 35 13 2 2 1 1 96
A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC
Women wait in long queues to practice their voting rights in a polling centre in Mohanpur of Rajshahi in the first phase of the upazila parishad polls yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Candidates backed by Jamaat-e-Islami, BNPs key ally in the 19-party alliance, have secured 13 upazilas until filing of this report around 1:30am. Among the remaining upazilas, two went to independent candidates, two to the UPDF from the hill tracts, and the rest to some of the other less known political parties. The Ashashoni upazila of Satkhira known as a stronghold of Jamaat has elected an Awami League-backed candidate. Meanwhile in Bogra known as a BNP monopoly Jamaat-backed chairman
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Cobwebs grow on lifesaving medical PSCs with ConocoPhillips, Statoil on equipment worth millions 3 deep-sea blocks recommended
n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
A large number of lifesaving medical equipments remain unused for decades at different public medical facilities across the country, wasting millions in taxpayers money and denying healthcare to needy patients. The Dhaka Tribune has been able to get hands on a draft list showing expensive unused medical instruments including intensive care unit (ICU) ventilators, x-ray machines, ultra-sonogram machines, hydraulic operation theatre (OT) tables, generators, anesthesia machines, incubators, laparoscopy machine, OT light and neuromuscular block monitor, that are lying around totally unused in various institutes. These equipments have not been used since they were bought years ago, allegedly because of inadequate infrastructure, or because the equipments were not needed at the facilities and only purchased to fill the pockets of some government officials and contractors. Seeking anonymity, several senior officials of the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said the ministry issued a directive to different hospitals and institutes on the first week of December last year,
X RAY MACHINE
INCUBATOR MACHINE
years
National Institute of Mental Health
27 years 4
HYDRAULIC OT TABLES 2
years
Jessore General Hospital
3 6 6 3
OT LIGHTS
years
ANESTHESIA MACHINE
11 years 7
40KV GENERATOR
years
and convener of an evaluation committee on bidding, yesterday. If the contracts were signed, the international oil companies would form a joint venture to operate in blocks 12, 16 and 21, he told the Dhaka Tribune. ConocoPhillips and Statoil recently submitted a joint tender to explore oil and gas in these blocks near the Myanmar territory of the Bay. The two companies will conduct mandatory 2D seismic surveys on 1,412 line-kilometre area of block 12; 775line-
km of block 16; and 1,376line-km of block 21 in three years. In the next two years, they will conduct 2,000line-km of 2D or equivalent 3D seismic surveys and drill an exploratory well each in the three blocks. The Petrobangla director said ConocoPhillips and Statoil would spend $109m for the exploratory well and other work in each block and deposit the amount as bank guarantee as per the bidding proposal.
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INSIDE
News
3 The project director of the high yielding jute and seed production programme, Mangal Chandra Chanda, continues to hold office a year after his deputation in the post was cancelled because of graft allegations. 5 Residents of Gulshan and Banani are annoyed by the sorry state of roads in their areas.
60KV GENERATOR
years
1-5 years
4 years
50KV GENERATOR
6 years
asking them to compile and submit a list of unused medical equipments. They also alleged that contractors and suppliers often paid bribes in the forms of cash, foreign trips and free
treatment in foreign hospitals to ministers, high-ranking government officials and doctors, to get their orders approved.
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Nation
6 Taltoli upazila nirbahi officer in Barguna allegedly released a stalker after getting order from a local Awami League leader.
Op-Ed
11 A gentleman came down all the way from the Washington office of the World Bank to discuss and determine the possible intervention points in stateowned banks following the Hall-Mark debacle.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Election officials count ballot papers at the mohila college centre in Barisal's Bakerganj upazila yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
US diplomat
PAGE 1 COLUMN 3
Hospital officials also reportedly make unnecessary purchases, as they choose to spend the annual allocation of funds for buying equipment, instead of returning the unspent funds to the ministry. Asked about the large number of unused equipment, Health Secretary MM Niazuddin said all health sector officials were responsible for the practice, and admitted that sometimes equipments were bought to spend the allocated budget. The ministry has recently formed a committee to identify the people behind the practice, he added. Asked about the issue, Dr Mahmmod Hasan, president of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), told the Dhaka Tribune: Ideally, all medical equipment should be bought based on demand of the concerned institute; but in most cases, there has been a huge gap between demand and supply. There should be coordination between health ministry, health directorate and the different institutes that are users and suppliers of the equipment.
The Dhaka Tribune has learned that an x-ray machine has remained unused for 27 years, since it was supplied by the Central Medical Stores Depot to the 250-bed Tangail General Hospital on January 21, 1987. Another incubator machine also remains unpacked there since August 2010. The National Institute of Mental Health in Dhaka has left an anesthesia machine unused since February 2003, allegedly because of inadequate manpower and infrastructure. The Netrokona Adhunik Sadar Hospital was yet to set up a 60kV generator it received in December 2007. Similarly, Khagrachhari Adhunik District Sadar Hospital received a 50kV generator from the CMSD in January 2008, but had to leave it inside the box, as there was no room available to set up the machine. In 2011, two hydraulic OT tables were also supplied, but no engineer was found to operate the equipment. A neuromuscular block monitor has stayed unpacked at the 250-bed Jessore General Hospital since January 2008, because of the lack of space and trained
doctors. The same hospital also has a 40kV generator left unused since June 2008, reportedly because they did not need it. Other unpacked equipment at the hospital includes anesthesia machine and hydraulic OT table that were supplied on 2010 and 2011 respectively. The CMSD supplied OT lights to the Narayanganj civil surgeon in December 2010, which was supposed to be used at a proposed 20-bed hospital in Siddirganj, the site for which was yet to be selected. During 2009 to 2013, the CMSD also supplied incubators, anesthesia machines, laparoscopy machines and ultra-sonogram machines to Brahmanbaria District Sadar Hospital, none of which has been used so far. Between October and November of 2013, the CMSD supplied ultra-sonogram machine and ICU ventilator machine to the Jaipurhat modern district hospital but no one has so far set it up. A former official of the CMSD said a generator could cost around Tk25-30 lakh, an anesthesia machine Tk8-10 lakh, and a laparoscopy machine Tk1015 lakh. l
So far, over a thousand voters have exercised their franchise in this polling centre. More than half of them are women, said Monir Hossain, the presiding officer. He was overwhelmed by the presence of a large number of women in the queues since morning and happy that no untoward situation had taken place. They [women] came in small groups led by an older member of their family or neighbourhood. Some had babies on their laps, he said. An elderly voter Almenda Banu said she came with her two daughters, a daughter-in-law and two grand children to cast vote. The whole family was in a festive mood. My husband passed away a year back. If he were alive, he would have brought us to the polling centre, said Almenda, whose son and a son-in-law are expatriate workers in a Middle East country. I think the presence of male voters is thinner than that of females as almost in every family male members are either expatriates or out of the town to earn livelihood, explained Monir. Almost a similar picture was seen at Narisha Paschim Char Government Primary School, a few kilometres off the Meghula primary school. Officials out there said there were two polling centres in the school of which one was designated for women. Around 1pm, the polling centres for women witnessed a large number of
crowd in comparison with those for men. So far 1,097 of 2,209 votes have been cast. I hope after the lunch time many more voters will come, said Md Kamrul Islam, presiding officer of the womens polling centre. Visiting at least 11 polling centres in the upazila, no large queue was noticed, but the presence of voters continued till afternoon. Voting ended almost peacefully. No untoward situation was created, and so voters were not in a hurry. They came in their convenient time, said Jasim Uddin, the assistant returning officer of the upazila. I think 55%-57% vote has been cast. We will announce the exact figure after counting, he told the Dhaka Tribune over phone shortly after voting concluded at 4pm. At Dohar, 58 of 75 polling centres had been marked important considering the possibility of violence. Those polling centres were situated at four unions of Muksedpur, Narisha, Bilashpur and Kusumhati, where extra security measures had been taken to avert untoward situation. Five candidates, one from Awami League background, one independent, two BNP and its associate bodies and one from Islami Shashantantra contested the chairman post. There were 13 contestants for the vice-chairman post and five for the woman vice-chairman post.l
Islam [Hathazari Madrasa], he said, adding that their ameer had responded to different queries of the US diplomat. Munir said the Hefazat leaders asked Cathleen about the observations of the US authority regarding Hefazat, qawmi madrasas and Islamic scholars of Bangladesh; however, she refrained from answering, saying she needed permission of the authority to answer the queries. Assistant Political Specialist of the US embassy Lubain Chowdhury Masum accompanied Cathleen during the visit. Hafiz Akhter, superintendent of police in Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune that two officials of the US embassy reached Hathazari in the morning to observe the upazila election. They have also visited the Hathazari Madrasa, he added. Hefazat Secretary General Junaid Babunagari, Nayeb-e-Ameer Mahibullah Babunagari, Joint Secretary Mainuddin Ruhi, Organizing Secretary Azizul Hoque Islamabadi and Anas Madani were present among others at the meeting. l
ConocoPhillips
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contenders have come out on top in three out of the six upazilas that went into polls yesterday; the remaining three went to BNP-backed runners. In Jessores Abhaynagar upazila that frequently made headlines before and after last months parliamentary poll for the attacks on minorities and the alleged involvement of a local Awami League leader in the attack, a BNPbacked contender has come out as the winner. According to unofficial results, the closest fight was witnessed in Khagrachhari sadar upazila where UPDF candidate Chonchumoni Chakma upset BNPs Kongchairi Mogh by only 162
votes. BNP has been particularly successful in Dhaka, Manikganj and Gazipur, winning all the chairman posts in the upazila parishads that saw polls from these three districts. The Awami League, on the other hand, clinched all the top posts in the upazila parishads in Sunamganj and Barisal. The moderate average voter turnout of around 60% in yesterdays elections was roughly a repetition of the 68.32% turnout the last time the upazilas went into polls five years ago. Some stray incidents of violence marred the atmosphere of the otherwise peaceful elections despite the
four-tier security arrangements put in place at all the polling centres, including the deployment of one platoon of the army at each of the upazilas. The elections this year in the upazila parishads the semi-urban local government bodies rose to almost equal prominence as the parliamentary poll because both ruling Awami League and the BNP although not allowed to formally participate organisationally took the elections very seriously, as an opportunity to reestablish the partys command on the grassroots. In the weeks ahead of the polling, both BNP and the Awami League put in vigorous organisational efforts to make sure that the local candidates did not
run against each other for the various posts in the upazila parishads. However, that attempt remained largely futile with the grassroots of both the parties taking the opportunity to express their grievances at the deprivation that they suffered in the last few years from the top leaders of their respective parties. As a result, the stage was set for a hard fought upazila parishad polls. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said in his post-polling reaction that the elections were completely free and fair. However, at least 17 candidates most BNP-backed in eight upazilas announced pulling out of the polls
alleging irregularities. Interestingly, three of them, running for various posts in the same upazila in Meherpur district, have emerged victorious unofficially. Reports of violence, clashes, snatching of ballot boxes, attacks on polling centres, bomb blasts and arrests have come from various upazilas in at least 10 districts including Bogra, Sirajganj, Gopalganj, Habiganj, Meherpur, Narsingdi, Chittagong, Jamalpur, Sylhet and Jessore. Election Commission sources said voting had been suspended in at least 10 polling centres around the country because of various kinds of untoward incidents. l
After the initial five-year period, the two companies will drill another exploratory well in each block. Petrobangla had first put a total of 12 blocks out for international bidding on December 17, 2012 under the Bangladesh Offshore Bidding Round 2012 nine of them were in 51,589 square kilometres of shallow sea and three in 10,041 square kilometres of deep sea. In October last year, Petrobangla invited international tenders again, but no company showed interest. According to the PSC, a contractor will be allowed 20 years to work on an oil field and 25 years on a gas field from the date of approval of the development plan. They cannot export oil and gas, but they can sell gas to a third party inside Bangladesh. Petrobangla is now ready to sign PSCs for two selected shallow sea blocks for block 7 with ConocoPhillips and for block 11 with Australia-based Santos and Singapore-based Kris Energy Limited. l
They complained that the ruling Awami League, using the state machineries, forcefully drove their agents out of at least 30 polling centres. They also accused the ruling party men of harassing their supporters. The total number of polling centres in the upazila was 70. However, around 9:30pm, hours after the voting was completed and immediately after the unofficial results started coming out, Bijon told the Dhaka Tribune over phone: We are accepting the result because people have resisted the ruling party and the administrations conspiracy. People have won. Earlier yesterday, at least 14 other candidates, mostly BNP-backed, in eight upazilas announced pulling out of the polls in the middle of the voting, raising allegations of rigging and accusing the ad-
ministration of being biased against them. Some of those candidates also called hartals for today in their respective areas in protest. The eight upazilas were: Lalmohan of Bhola, Shailkupa of Jhenaidhah, Sujanagar of Pabna, Meherpur Sadar, Gouranadi and Bakerganj of Barisal, Kalia of Narail and Kazipur of Pabna. Of them, hartals will be enforced today in Lalmohan, Shailakupa and Sujanagar upazilas and the whole of Barisal district. The candidates who announced pulling out include at least one rebel candidate of the ruling Awami Leauge. In a press conference at the Nayapaltan office of BNP, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general of the party, said: It has been proved today that the upazila elections are just a continuation of the January 5 [national] election. Everyone should now get an idea what
would have happened to the BNP if it took part in the January 5 poll. The fact that free and fair elections are not possible without a non-partisan government, has been proved yet again today. Rizvi accused ruling party men of occupying polling centres in Sujanagar of Pabna, Sonatola of Bogra and Shibloy of Shariatpur. The ruling Awami League, however, said the first phase of the upazila elections were free and fair and BNPs allegations about the polls were a sheer lie. We have made many complaints to the Election Commission. In some places, our activists were thrown out of the polling centres by BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami men, HT Imam, co-chairman of partys election steering committee, told journalists at a press briefing at the party presidents Dhanmondi office af-
ter the voting had ended. Imam alleged that BNP was trying to sell the lie and claimed that law enforcers had thrown Awami League supporters out of many polling centres. He, however, expressed satisfaction over the independent role played by the EC. Our Jhenaidah correspondent reported that voting at the Mathurapur Government Primary School centre in Mirzapur of Sailkupa upazila was postponed around 10am when miscreants snatched ballot papers from the centre. At the sadar upazila of the district, local Awami League leader Faizuddin, also the chairman of the Dogachhi Union Parishad, was arrested by an executive magistrate for trying to influence voters. According to our Barisal correspondent, a BNP-backed candidate and a rebel Awami League candidate
pulled out of the polls in Bakerganj. In Lalmohan upazila of Bhola, a rebel BNP candidate boycotted the polls claiming that his agents had been barred from entering the polling centres. Meanwhile, BNPs ally Jamaat-e-Islami, which cannot participate in any election as a political party, yesterday accused the Awami League of occupying polling centres in a number of upazilas using the administration. In a statement issued yesterday, Jamaat acting secretary general Shafiqur Rahman said Awami League MPs violated electoral rules by occupying polling centres and attacking the supporters of the candidates that Jamaat had backed. The Awami League has proved once against that they do not believe in peoples voting power and democracy, the statement read. l
No immediate action
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The CEC said the commission would leave no stone unturned to hold the next phases of the local body elections peacefully. On voters turnout, he said: The commission will not now declare the turnout of voters on the basis of any speculation. It will be announced after getting official results. EC officials said before the elections many candidates backed by the 19-party alliance had submitted allegations about the ruling party candidates influence on the polls and attacks on them. An official said the EC had not taken the allegations into cognisance and it would take action only against specific allegations sent by the returning officer. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Pedastrains cross a busy road risking their lives and avoiding the foot over bridge in front of Mascot Plaza in the capitals Uttara yesterday
Quoting his grandmother, witness Pradip said his uncle was tortured to death
Kashem, who is facing 14 charges for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, was produced before the tribunal during the deposition. The defence claimed that both the witnesses had given false depositions. When asked about Mir Kashem, Mridul answered he could not recall any in-
formation that was related with Mir Kashem. To a defence question on whether he gave his correct house address to the tribunal, Mridul said the holding number has now changed. He also admitted of flashing for the first time before the tribunal about his meeting with Prova Rani at the Dalim Hotel after victory. Meanwhile, the ICT 2 yesterday also began hearing a petition seeking a ruling as to why a show-cause notice should not be issued against David Bergman, a journalist from a Dhaka daily, for making derogatory comments about the tribunal in a blog. The tribunal adjourned the proceeding until Thursday (today), when the petitioner High Court lawyer Abul Kalam Azad might give his submission and the ICT 2 might decide on the issue. l
Students of Dhaka University decorate the central Shaheed Minar with colourful paintings yesterday ahead of February 21, International Mother Language Day RAJIB DHAR
The driver and helper of a picnic bus that fell into a road side ditch and left seven students dead in Jessore on Saturday, surrendered to the police yesterday. Joydeb Kumar Bhadra, superintendent of police in Jessore, told reporters that driver Md Israfil and helper Md Maharram had surrendered to the police. Police produced the duo to a Jessore court, said Matiar Rahman, officer-incharge of Chougachha police station. On February 15, a picnic bus fell into a road side ditch at Jhautola under Chougachha upazila leaving seven spot dead and 40 others injured. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Replaced jute project director clinging on to his post for over a year
n Mohosinul Karim
The project director of the high yielding jute and seed production programme, Mangal Chandra Chanda, continues to hold office a year after his deputation in the post was cancelled because of graft allegations. In a bid to hold onto his post, Mangal recently collected a semi-official letter from the jute minister by concealing facts about the graft allegations against him; the letter was later sent to the public administration ministry for cancelling a stand release order against the official that was issued on February 9. When contacted, Mangal however denied the allegations against him and blamed a group of unscrupulous officials of the project and the Department of Jute for trying to remove him from the project as he had been creating obstacles for their corruption. Meanwhile, Mirza Azam, state minister for jute and textile ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that he and the minister had no knowledge of the project directors alleged irregularities, as they had only recently taken charge. The ministry will make inquiries about the allegations against Mangal. Official steps would be taken against him if the allegations were proved. Action would be taken against the ministry officials who are trying to save him, the state minister added. According to the stand release order and the allegations submitted to the ministry and the Anti-Corruption Commission, Mangal was ordered to be removed from the project director post because of his alleged involvement with corruption, irregularities and inefficiency. On February 13 last year, the public administration ministry appointed Rafiqul Islam, a joint secretary, to replace Mangal as the project director of the high yielding jute and seed production programme. He, however, could not join the office as Mangal continued in his refusal to hand over responsibility of the post. Mirza Azam however said the new jute minister did not allow Rafiqul to join the post after Mangal had informed the ministry that Rafiqul, an engineer, was an inappropriate choice for the post. On July 3, 2012, Tofazzal Hossain, director of the Department of Jute, submitted a complaint to the ACC claiming that Mangal had abused his powers for personal gain. Tofazzal, in his complaint, also demanded legal action against Mangal for illegally earning Tk3 crore by recruiting 168 disqualified candidates in the posts of assistant jute development officer and office assistant/computer operator under the project. He alleged that Mangal had taken written tests for the recruitment of 168 posts of two category officials on March 16, 2012. At least 500 aspirants allegedly received the questions of the test the day before the exam, after the project director had leaked the question, Tofazzal claimed, adding that the exam of 200 aspirants had been taken at Mangals residence. He also claimed that the project director and his trusted officials had collected Tk3-4 lakh from each of the candidates. Mangal allegedly also took the signs of Tofazzal, a recruitment committee member, in some papers without calling any meeting of the committee. Several other complaints were also submitted against the project director to the ministry and the ACC, but those remain stuck because of unknown reasons. Mangal, however, snubbed the allegations against him as fake, baseless, and intentional. However, he admitted there have been some mistakes, but said: All problems have been solved with mutual understanding. The decision was informed by the public administration ministry. The problem would be solved within a short time. l
n Tribune Report
The government should play an important role in correcting market failures and must be careful so as not to make matters worse by their interventions. Dr. Vasant Sukhatme, Edward J. Noble Professor Emeritus of Economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA said this at a public lacture in Dhaka Wednesday. A system based on private property but with the government playing an effective referee working in an environment with greater openness, greater predictability and lower regulation will be more likely to lead economic progress, he said, according to a press release. University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) organised the lecture on Institutions and Economic Progress at its own campus auditorium in Dhanmondi. Professor Sukhatme is currently at ULAB as part of the universitys Fulbright award. ULAB Vice Chancellor Professor Imran Rahman also spoke at the lecture. l
Working children earned a day off as human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kenro arranged a day of fun and educational activities for the kids. This picture was taken at the Shishu Park yesterday afternoon RAJIB DHAR
WEATHER
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:12am 6:27am 12:12am 4:19pm 5:56pm 7:12pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena talking to women voters in Mohonpur, Rajshahi, during the first phase of the fourth upazila polls that took place in 97 upazilas across the nation DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Locals said Wasa had excavated a number of roads to install sewerage pipelines and repair old lines. However, after finishing their work, the stateowned water supply authority did not take a single measure to repair the roads, they claimed. To make matters worse, debris piled up by Wasa staff on the roadside is yet to be removed, creating difficulties for neighbouring residents. During a recent visit to the areas in question, this Dhaka Tribune correspondent witnessed water logging in potholes on most of the internal roads. Gulshans road 36 and its walkway, as well as roads 23, 24, 126, 130, 132 and 133 are all unfit for traffic, presenting a risk to pedestrians and commuters. The same is true of Bananis roads 7 and 8 on Block F, as well as road 5 on Block G.
The road behind the extended head office of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) near Banani Kitchen Market has also become uneven and bumpy, due to the negligence of the city authority in maintaining the road. Nazrul Islam, a resident of Gulshan, said: Residents in the area have been suffering to some extent for a long time, as most of the roads have remained untended for the last eight to 10 years. Many of the roads in these areas have become unfit due to a lack of maintenance and immediate renovation is a must to keep smooth communication, he said. After only a light shower, the roads become muddy and slippery which sometimes causes accidents, he added. On Road 14 in Banani, drainage and sewerage lines have been repaired,
but Wasa employees are yet to remove debris from the road and footpath, impeding the movement of both pedestrians and vehicles. Rihan Islam, a student of the University of South Asia, said: We are facing difficulties at every moment because of road digging. Brigadier General Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of the DNCC, told the Dhaka Tribune: We have been informed about the dilapidated condition of a few roads in the Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara residential areas. We have a plan to carry out repairs on all the bumpy roads in these areas, he said. We have submitted proposals to the Local Government Division and are waiting for the Development Project Proforma (DPP) to get approval from the ministry, he added. l
The students of Jagannath University stage demonstration on the campus yesterday to press for their demand to recover residential halls
NASHIRUL ISLAM
A man installs CCTV cameras on Shaheed Minar premises in a bid to maintain security during observance of the International Mother Language Day and the National Mourning Day on February 21 RAJIB DHAR
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Clockwise from left: Election officials count ballot papers at Bakerganj Mohila College polling centre in Barisal; Rapid Action Battalion members patrol Rajshahis Mohonpur upazila as part of upazila polls security measures; women stand in a long queue to cast their votes in the upazila polls in Sylhets Companyganj; Polling agent check voters list after voters come to cast votes at a polling centre in Nawabganj DHAKA TRIBUNE
Son of an Awami League leader was arrested in possession of a pistol from in front of a polling centre at Ullapara in Sirajganj yesterday. A team of police led by Additional Police Super Shuvash Chandra rushed to the spot and arrested Kamrul Islam Orange, son of Awami League President Mohonpur union unit Abul Kalam Azad with nine MM foreign pistol loaded with three rounds of bullet from in front of KMM Institute polling centre. He was intimidating voters of that polling centre, the police official said. l
A polling officer was beaten up yesterday during the upazila election at Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj district. The incident took place at 51 South Fukra Government Primary School polling centre under the upazila. Followers of Md Moktar Hossain ,the upazila chairman candidate and AL general secretary allegedly beat up the officer for his support for the current chairman. I was beaten up for false allegation, polling officer Animesh Biswas said. Moktar alleged Animesh violated the code of conduct of election. One of my activists slapped the officer, Moktar said. l
Government of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh Ofce of the Divisional Railway Manager, Bangladesh Railway Paksey, Pabna.
Due to unavoidable circumstances the tender invited against Tender reference No.-222-W-PXC/Tender Notice/13-14 date:- 02/02/2014 for the work At Pxc:- Thorough repairs to DEO/Pxcs ofce, chamber including boundary wall & provision of sanitary latrine. is hereby cancelled. Sl No. Invitation for original tender notice No. & date. 19/Rev/Pxc/1314 Date:-02/02/2014 Invitation for Tender Notice serial No 1 to 24 Description of works
At Pxc:- Thorough repairs to DEO/ Pxcs ofce, chamber including boundary wall & provision of sanitary latrine
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Divisional Engineer/II RPRD No.3726, Date:19/02/2014 For Divisional Railway Manager, GC-13/14 (5 x 2) Bangladesh Railway, Paksey.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Juris
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JURIS QUOTE
LAW CARTOON
BIG STOCK
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n Juris Desk
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ress Council of Bangladesh was established under the Press Council Act, 1974 for the purpose of preserving the freedom of the press and maintaining and improving the standard of newspapers and news agencies in Bangladesh. Code of Conduct, 1993 (As amended in 2002) for the newspapers, news agencies and journalists of Bangladesh was set up under Section 11(2)(b) of the Press Council Act, 1974. Here are the provisions of the Code of Conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists. Not to publish any news or publication detrimental to national integrity, independence, sovereignty, oneness of the state and constitution of Bangladesh. The war of liberation and its spirit and ideals must be upheld, and any publication repugnant to it to be stopped. It is the responsibility of a journalist to keep people informed of issues which influence or attract them. News and commentaries are to be prepared and published showing full respect to the individual rights and sensitivity of the readers of the newspaper and the people in general. Truth and accuracy of information received by newspapers and journalists are to be ensured as far as possible. Information received from reliable sources may be published in public interest without fear of being penalised. Any such news if published in public interest and in good faith and are considered trustworthy by logical consideration, a journalist is to be relieved from any adverse consequence arising out of publication of such news. Unconfirmed reports or reports based on rumours shall be verified before publication and if found unreasonable upon verification, be withheld from publication. News items whose contents are distorted and baseless or whose publication hinges on breach of trust not to be published. Newspapers and journalists have the right to express their views on controversial issues and in doing so: l All events should be truthfully reported and views be neatly expressed l No report of an event be distorted to influence the readers
No news shall be distorted or slanted maliciously either in the main commentary or in the headline Views on the main news shall be presented neatly
speedily published giving equal importance of the original news. The editor, while editing the rejoinder shall not change its basic character. 18 If an aggrieved party sends a rejoinder for any damage done to him by an editorial, it shall be the obligation of the editor to publish the corrigendum on the same page and also express regrets. 19 Malicious news should not be published. 20 The editor is to take full responsibility for all publications in the newspaper. 21 A reporter while reporting a case of financial or other kind of irregularity shall, to the best of his ability, verify the facts in his report and shall incorporate adequate material to prove the truth of the matter reported. 22 Any irresponsible publication to which no objection was made can be a source of the news but a journalist cannot evade his responsibility on the ground that the news is a reproduction of an earlier report. 23 It is a responsibility of a journalist to highlight any news which projects degeneration of moral values in the society but it is also the moral responsibility of a journalist to maintain strict precaution in publishing news or photos involving male-female relationship or any report relating to women. 24 Any person who will join in a service of newspaper or news agency or any media of news shall be bound to take oath and sign in presence of the editor a copy of that oath. 25 Any publisher of a newspaper shall take oath under the Press Council Act, and sign a copy of that oath.
The editor having the right to publish any advertisement signed by proper authorities in his/her newspaper even if it is apparently against any individual interest but not slanderous or prejudicial to public interest. If protest is made with regard to such an advertisement, the editor shall print and publish it free of cost.
10 Newspapers shall refrain from publishing news which is contemptuous or disrespectful to caste, creed, nationality and religion of any individual or the community or the country. For upholding national unity, communalism is to be strongly discouraged. 11 If a newspaper publishes any news which prejudices the interest and reputation of an individual, agency, institution or group of people or any special category of people, the newspaper concerned should provide opportunity to the aggrieved persons or institutions to publish their protest or rejoinder on the matter within a reasonable period of time. 12 If the news published is damaging or improper, it is to be immediately withdrawn, corrigendum or explanation be made and in special cases, apology should be tendered. 13 To increase the circulation of a newspaper no sensational, derogatory or obscene news and picture, though attractive to the people, be published. 14 Newspapers should adopt reasonable measures with a view to resisting crime and corruption. 15 Since the extent and durability of the influence of newspapers are greater than that of other media, a journalist writing for a newspaper shall particularly be cautious about the credibility and truthfulness of sources and shall also preserve his sources in order to avoid risks. 16 It is the responsibility of the newspapers to publish news relating to cases under trial and to publish the final judgment of the court to reveal the actual picture of issues relating to the trial. However, journalists shall refrain from publishing such comment or opinion which is likely to influence the decision of the judge, until the final verdict is announced. 17 Rejoinders of the aggrieved party or parties directly involved with a news published in a newspaper shall be
4 5
NOTICE BOARD
Send us queries for
If the Press Council receives any complain or has reason to believe that any newspaper or news agency has not lived up to the journalistic ethics or public taste or that an editor or a working journalist has committed any professional misconduct, or has breached the codes of journalistic ethics, the Council may, after giving both party an opportunity of being heard, hold an enquiry to find out the true facts. If after the inquiry, the Council finds that the newspaper, news agency or journalist is at fault, it may warn, admonish or censure the concerned newspaper, news agency or journalist, as the case may be. The decision of the Council is final and shall not be called in question in any court of law. l
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Dhaka Tribune
n Md Ariful Islam
he Constitution of Bangladesh is the solemn expression of the will of the people and of course supreme law of Bangladesh. It is such a constitution where democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and conscience have been guaranteed. If we look at the Article 11 of our constitution, it clearly states that: The Republic shall be a democracy in which fundamental human rights and freedoms and respect for the dignity and worth of the human person shall be guaranteed, and in which effective participation by the people through their elected representatives in administration at all levels shall be ensured. However, it goes without saying that, there are a few Articles in our constitution which are very controversial in nature, and are inconsistent with the basic fabric of democracy. For example, Article 39(1) talks of a fundamental right by which freedom of thought and conscience is guaranteed. However, when we look at the Article 70 of our constitution, it says that a member of parliament will lose his membership if he votes against his party. Article 70 says: a person elected as a member of Parliament at an election at which he was nominated as a candidate by a political party shall vacate his seat if he resigns from that party or votes in Parliament against the party. The statutory explanation of this Article says that a parliament member shall be deemed to have voted against that party if he/she, being present in parliament, abstains from voting, or absents himself from any sitting of parliament, ignoring the direction of the party that nominated him. What does it actually mean? We know in the parliamentary democracy, parliament is the repository of the state and of course the place where open debate takes place so that
different opinions come from the members of parliament. They have right to oppose any bill which may not serve the peoples interest. They have the right to abstain from voting if they desire. However, if they fail to comply with the requirement of Article 70(1) of the constitution, their memberships will be vacant. Where is the freedom of expression of members of parliament here? In our parliament, we have seen every government bill has been passed somewhat hurriedly no matter how much democratic or unfair it was for the reason that Article 70
does not allow dissenting voice against any bill placed in the parliament to pass or amend. Moreover, Article 55 of the constitution enshrined that the cabinet shall be collectively responsible to the parliament. This provision of collective responsibility has been meaningless because of Article 70 as the cabinet knows that it is not going to be defeated by motion of no-confidence, for no member of the majority party has the right to vote against the party line. However, one of the strategic advantages of Article 70 is the stability of a particular parliament for the reason that no
one can change or leave the political party by which he or she is nominated. It is worthwhile to mention here that, Article 7(2) and 26 of the constitution of Bangladesh impose certain limitation on parliament in making laws. According to these Articles, no law which is inconsistent with any provision of the constitution can be enacted. Article 7(2) confirms that if any other law is inconsistent with the constitution that other law shall, to the extent of the consistency, be void. As a matter of fact, we have seen that within the constitutions, Article 70 is inconsistent with the two basic principles of the constitution, ie freedom of expression and democracy. As far as the constitutional experts are concerned, this Article has been inserted in the constitution in 1972 because of some bad experiences in this subcontinent. But the way it has been used since 1972 which is certainly not the goal of our original constitution. To maintain and establish the basic democratic fabric and of course freedom of thought and conscience, this Article should be amended in such a way that the members of parliament have the right to oppose/ support or abstain from voting any bill brought before the parliament. Ideally, the parliament should be a place, in Tagores words, Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls, where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection, where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit, where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action. We hope that our parliament will soon consider amending this provision of the constitution. l Md Ariful Islam is a postgraduate student of International Relations,
8
Former US soldier guilty of rape found hanged n Agencies
A former US Army soldier, sentenced to life imprisonment for the 2006 rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the killing of her parents and sister, has been found hanged in his cell. The Los Angeles Times report, quoting prison officials, said the death of Steven Dale Green was being investigated as suicide. Green had been found hanging in his Arizona cell last week, according to the Timesreport, which was published on Tuesday. Green, 28, was convicted in 2009 of the rape and murder of 14-year-old Abeer Qassim Hamza al-Janabi and the deaths of her father, mother and six-year-old sister in Mahmudiya, 32km south of Baghdad. He was sentenced to life in prison, without the possibility of parole, after a federal jury in Kentucky could not decide whether he should be executed. During the trial, prosecutors portrayed him as the ringleader of a gang of five soldiers that plotted to invade the home of the family of four to rape the girl, and later bragged about the crime. Green, who was 19 when he committed the crime, was described as the triggerman in the group of soldiers, who donned black ninja outfits and raped the girl before killing her and her family. Three of the four other soldiers pleaded guilty in the attack and the fourth was convicted, all in military courts. They received sentences ranging from five to 100 years. Green was tried as a civilian because he was arrested after he was discharged from the army. He was described by prosecutors as predisposed to killing Iraqis. While his defence lawyers acknowledged that he took part in the killings, they argued he was suffering combat stress after the death of close colleagues and should be spared the death penalty. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
David Miranda with government the responsibility to decide what should not be published to protect national security. Journalists have no such constitutional responsibility, the ruling said. The journalist will have his own take or focus on what serves the public interest, for which he is not answerable to the public through Parliament. Mirandas lawyers said they had applied for permission to appeal against the decision and that journalists were now finding alternative ways
AFP
to protect material when travelling through Britain. We look forward to the Court of Appeal considering the fundamentally important legal issues raised in our appeal in due course, said Gwendolen Morgan. Whilst the courts consider our appeal, we understand that journalists are making alternative travel plans to safeguard their material, sources and confidential working systems when they have to travel via the UK. l
Man jailed for stabbing Russia diplomat, wife in Khartoum n AFP, Khartoum
A man from the Central African Republic who stabbed a Russian diplomat and his wife in Khartoum has been jailed for three years, Russias embassy in Sudan said on Wednesday. The couple were attacked just outside their Khartoum diplomatic mission on January 28, in a rare example of violence against foreigners in Sudan. Police said the attacker, grieving the death of his brother in the Central African Republic which borders Sudan, asked the Russians if they were French and then knifed them. Thousands of African and French troops have been deployed in Central African Republic on a mission to halt sectarian killings. Three years, Russian embassy charge daffaires Yury Vidakas told AFP, confirming the verdict as reported by state-linked Sudanese media. Asked about the health of the victims, he said: They are OK. l
Leopoldo Lopez
AFP
S Africa arrests Pakistani Venezuela protest leader man after shooting surrenders to police
n AFP, Cullinan
Police said Wednesday they had arrested a Pakistani man accused of opening fire on a crowd of protesters in a South African town east of Pretoria and injuring several people. Township residents hurled rocks and barricaded roads protesting the murder of a boy allegedly beaten to death with a golf club by a Pakistani shop owner. The boy was assaulted by one of the Pakistanis allegedly because he was stealing sweets, said the police. He died in hospital yesterday. Residents went on the rampage overnight, ransacking around 15 foreign-owned shops, according to police. One Pakistani guy was trying to get out of the protest area, and he was firing shots towards the protesters, police spokeswoman Marissa van der Merwe told AFP. The suspect was arrested. Police said both South Africans and Pakistanis had been wounded in the clashes, but did not give specific numbers. With poverty rife and unemployment and widespread, frustration in South Africas run-down neighbourhoods often boils over into anti-immigrant violence. An explosion of deadly attacks in 2008 killed more than 60 people and displaced thousands into refugee-style camps. l
n Agencies
Venezuelan security forces have arrested Leopoldo Lopez, an anti-government protest leader, on charges of fomenting unrest that has killed at least four people. On Tuesday tens of thousands of protesters stood in the way of the vehicle carrying Lopez, a 42-year-old Harvard-educated economist, after he made a defiant speech, bid farewell to his family, and gave himself up to soldiers. The vehicle eventually reached a military base. Opposition leaders hope Lopezs arrest will galvanise street demonstra-
tions against President Nicolas Maduro, though there is no immediate sign the protests will remove him. The threat of more violence hung over Tuesdays demonstration as Maduro, 51, led a rival march to denounce what he calls a fascist plot to overthrow him. But Lopezs repeated appeals for restraint, a strong police presence and heavy rain appeared to calm emotions and there were no reports of major violence. I am handing myself over to an unfair justice system, Lopez told supporters, standing on a platform next to a statue of Cuban poet and independence hero Jose Marti. May my imprisonment serve to wake the people up.
The crowd lifted Lopezs wife up to give him a final embrace and hang a crucifix around his neck. Minutes later, he surrendered to military officers, pumping his fist and then stepping into the military vehicle with a Venezuelan flag in one hand and a white flower in the other. Supporters gathered at the La Carlota airbase where he was taken, but later dispersed. Elsewhere in Caracas, thousands of oil workers and Maduro supporters, clad in the red of the ruling Socialist Party, held their own demonstration. In his speech, Maduro said he had sent Diosdado Cabello, vice president of the Socialist Party, to help transport Lopez. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n Reuters
Indias lower house of parliament has passed a decree to create the countrys 29th state amid chaotic scenes and uproar in from opponents of the bill. MPs on Tuesday passed the proposal to split Andhra Pradesh and create Telanganam, despite protests from Andhra Pradesh politicians who are against the plan. Politicians from Andhra Pradeshs prosperous coastal region have repeatedly protested in parliament over the division, with one legislator even firing pepper spray last week. The Speaker adjourned the House three times after disruptions on Tuesday, and the parliamentary proceedings were not telecast live. This is a black day in the history of this country and were declaring a
9
Leopard kills boy in second attack in India n Agencies
A leopard has killed a five-year-old boy in central India in what is thought to be the beasts second such deadly attack, police have said. The animal attacked the boy on Monday evening while he was going to the toilet in the courtyard of his home in Mendrapara village in Chhattisgarh state, said senior district police officer Vijay Pandey on Wednesday. His family raised the alarm after seeing the animal drag the boy away, sparking a search by villagers who discovered the body, Pandey told AFP news agency. He said the same beast killed a 10-year-old boy last December near Ram Tekri village in the same area, and is also believed to have attacked livestock. The forest department has already launched a massive haunt to capture the leopard, he said. The area where the attacks occurred is close to the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve, home to some 12 tigers as well as leopards. About a third of Chhattisgarh is forested, but destruction of native habitat and encroaching villages result in increasing contact between wild animals and humans. Indias leopard population was put at 1,150 in a census in 2011. But conservationists have warned it is at risk as a result of rampant poaching for leopard skins. l
Indian court sentences three India creates new state to death for fatal gang-rape despite protests
bandh (shutdown) tomorrow in the state of Andhra Pradesh in protest, said Jagan Mohan Reddy, a lawmaker from coastal Andhra Pradesh. The decision to break up the southern state was made ahead of national elections due by May. Telangana will be countrys 29th state with 17 parliamentary seats. The state capital Hyderabad, a major hub of tech companies, will remain the common capital for the two states for a period of 10 years. Such was the mood on Tuesday that roads leading up to parliament in the heart of Delhi were blocked and paramilitary troopers deployed. In Telangana, supporters celebrated on the streets on hearing the news. The bill will go forward to the less-powerful upper house of parliament, whose members are expected to back the lower houses decision. l
Activists hold posters during a rally as they protest against the gangrape and murder of a teenager
AFP
India (PTI) news agency as saying. The father of the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, welcomed the judgement, saying he has been so consumed with fighting for justice for his daughter that he has been unable to hold down a job. I fought a lone battle for two years, and it has paid off, the father, 45, who was in court to hear the sentences, told AFP. The government toughened laws on sexual violence against women in March last year, following outrage at the fatal gang-rape of a student on a
Delhi bus in December 2012. Four adults were sentenced to death last year over that attack, a crime that sparked seething anger about the treatment of women in India. The new laws allow for the death penalty in cases where a rape victim dies from the attack or is left in a vegetative state. The woman, who worked as an assistant with a private company in the megacity of Gurgaon on Delhis outskirts, was dragged into a car near her home in February 2012 before being gang-raped, PTI said. l
China says it will win West over to its view on Tibet, Xinjiang
n Reuters, Beijing
China has time on its side to win over Western opinion to its point of view on the restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang, a senior official wrote on Wednesday, vowing with unusually strong language to ignore foreign pressure on human rights. Zhu Weiqun, chairman of the ethnic and religious affairs committee of the top advisory body to parliament, acknowledged this would be a difficult task but said dissenting voices were beginning to be heard in the West. As China becomes more involved in international affairs, and as Tibet and Xinjiang further open to the world, more and more Westerners will have an understanding of Tibet and Xinjiang that better accords with reality, Zhu wrote in a lengthy article on the government-run website Tibet.cn. Tibet and Xinjiang are two of Chinas most sensitive areas when it
n Reuters, Seoul
comes to foreign criticism of its human rights record. Tibet in particular is an emotive issue in the West, attracting high-profile support from politicians and celebrities. Zhu said the West would finally see the real face of the Dalai clique and
East Turkestan, referring to exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the militant forces China says operate in Xinjiang. Zhu said such views in the West was still weak and isolated but they represented the trend of history. l
An Australian man has been arrested while doing missionary work in North Korea, his wife told Reuters on Wednesday, making him the second foreign Christian missionary to be held by the North. The wife of 75-year-old John Short told Reuters her husband was arrested in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Sunday and had been open about his religious work on his second trip to the isolated country. He wont be intimidated by the communists, Karen Short told Reuters from Hong Kong by telephone. North Korea has held American missionary Kenneth Bae for more than a year and convicted him of trying to overthrow the state. A North Korean court sentenced Bae to 15 years hard labor and efforts by Washington to secure his release have been thwarted. Im not upset, were Christian missionaries and we have tremendous support for what we do, Shorts wife said of her husbands arrest. While North Korea espouses freedom of religion it is ranked as one of the worlds most oppressive regimes in terms of freedom of religion. A United Nations report issued on Tuesday cited lack of religious freedom in a state whose human rights abuses it likened to those of Nazi Germany. Short was making his second trip to North Korea, according to a statement by his family, and was in possession of religious materials that had been translated into Korean. Australia, which does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, is using its embassy in Seoul, and the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, to handle the case. l
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
he Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission has received proposals from electricity distribution companies to increase retail tariffs for electricity by between 8.58% and 19.5% per kilowatt-hour. As the last price change was 18 months ago, price rises are clearly necessary. However, we believe that it is also overdue to revaluate the entire structure for energy prices and subsidies. The present policy of providing direct subsidies for fossil fuels and electricity is simply not sustainable, either economically or environmentally. In a study last year, the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies estimated that the true cost of energy subsidies exceeded BDT 148.9 billion (US $1.7 billion) in 2012, when the low-interest rate loans that the government provides to the Power Development Board and BPC are taken into account. This was almost double the amount allocated that year in direct expenditure on energy subsidies. The budget for the current 2013-14 financial year is BDT 155 billion (US $1.9 billion) for direct, on-budget energy subsidies alone, which BIDS estimates to be six times the figure in 2010. Clearly, with volatile international oil prices and growing demand for coal, it can only become even more difficult for the government to sustain the current approach to energy subsidies. The regulator must lead the way in developing a more rational approach to energy prices. Subsidies not only use up vital funds, but encourage scarce non-renewable resources to be wasted. With most electricity generated via fossil fuels, subsidies only increase emissions and artificially discourage investment in solar and biogas. Removing subsidies and requiring consumers to pay for the true costs of power is the best way forward to both mitigate waste and help the power sector to become more efficient.
February 12 All murders are awful! Especially that of good and valuable public persons who are important to the country, like Sagar, Runi, SAMS Kibria, etc. And the proverbial long arm of justice cant reach the culprits for years, altogether. It speaks not only of the inefficiency of state functionaries, but smacks of a deep-rooted conspiracy as well. The government ought to attach utmost attention to resolving such murder cases with due urgency and bring the offenders to justice at the soonest, so that their claim to good governance doesnt sound hollow and become mere rhetoric! :( WaliulHaqueKhondker
February 12 Hehehe! Amusing article. You havent written anything we dont know! But it was nice to read such a beautiful summary of the whole mess. Muhammad Eusha
February 13 This cavalier attitude of the AL regime seems to have all but become official policy. It should only convince countless average Bangladeshis (supporters of BNP, or not) that the only way to unseat this illegitimate, increasingly egotistical regime is not through appeals to reason, morality, justice or compromise, but through a resolute and sustained campaign of political and public resistance. The BNP chairperson couldnt be more correct in saying that her partys appeals for dialogue are certainly not open-ended or indefinite. Indeed, Im actually inclined to agree with those who are starting to say that the search for dialogue with this regime is futile and is better soon ditched altogether. Ronnie
February 16 Can be baseless or 100% genuine, but the fact is that Hefazat and Jamaat have the same ideology and speak the same nonsense, exactly to create a distorted picture of Islam and divide the people of a secular Bangladesh! Vikram Khan
Be Heard
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
fter five years, Bangladesh has been taken off the Financial Action Task Forces grey list of countries which need to improve their enforcement of laws on money laundering activities. The steps taken by the government to enact and improve monitoring of financial activities under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009 and Anti-Terrorism Act 2009 have been duly recognised. It is good news that the countrys regulatory framework for detection and apprehension of such illegal activities is now seen as compliant. Bangladesh is doing better than many countries of the world with nine major countries, including Turkey and Indonesia still on the grey list in taking positive steps against money laundering and terrorism financing. As a result, our export volume is likely to rise as international trade costs will be lowered, because the level of charges made by foreign banks to facilitate transactions will fall. It remains important to keep improving implementation of laws to help smooth the flow of business and monetary transactions. This calls for vigilance and objective reviews of anti-money laundering procedures at regular intervals. To this end, the financial intelligence unit set up at Bangladesh Bank and the national task force have a vital role to play. We must not become complacent. The economy will be ill served if Bangladesh finds its way back on the grey list, should it fail to execute and implement important anti-money laundering laws in time.
It is good news that efforts to tackle money laundering framework have been recognised
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Authoritative decree (4) 5 Mistake (5) 9 Admit to holy orders (6) 10 Copy (3) 11 Quantity of paper (4) 12 Large volumes (5) 14 Icy cold (5) 16 Playing cards suit (4) 19 Identical (4) 21 Foot lever (5) 24 Trembling poplar (5) 27 Lose colour (4) 29 Prosecute (3) 30 Vestiges (6) 31 Hidden obstacles (5) 32 Torn (4) DOWN 1 Golfers warning (4) 2 Anger (3) 3 Proverbs (6) 4 Docile (4) 5 Tempted (7) 6 Force (3) 7 Open (poet) (3) 8 Reposes (5) 13 Lyric poem (3) 15 Mourns (7) 17 Comfort in distress (6) 18 School group (5) 20 Monkey (3) 22 Far away (4) 23 Finest quality (4) 25 Heavenly body (3) 26 Vegetable (3) 28 Lions abode (3)
SUDOKU
YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword
How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no numberrepeating.
Sudoku
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
BIGSTOCK
State-owned commercial and development banks are synonymous with inefficiency, corruption, and failure to ensure services to the common people
Bangladesh Bank kept on refinancing them due to their low internal cash generation or asset and liability mismatches. The Ministry of Finance was forced to recapitalise them at frequent intervals through budgetary allocations or one-time block allocations. Ever since independence, subsequent political rulers wanted to earn popularity by waiving agricultural loans, or granting favours to their political loyalists through disbursement of industrial loans. This did not help our agriculture or industrialisation. On the contrary, it did help the unpopular government or corrupt members of parliament to stay in power at the cost of the national exchequer. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) or NGOs were never granted enough leeway by the governments to play
help in bringing in minimum possible efficiency in the major state-owned banks, recapitalise them, corporatise them, maybe help them take the capital market listing route for long-term sustainability. The subsequent finance secretaries and ministers subscribed to the idea but lacked adequate energy to drive this process. They had to face unprecedented resistance from the political leadership, their cronies, and most shockingly, a part of the intelligentsia, even economists. The interim caretaker government progressed quite a bit in that direction. Large state-owned banks were made public limited companies. The corporatisation process was put in motion. Finding out strategic investors to recapitalise these banks was being
talked about like the China banking sector restructure model. But everything was put on hold with the taking-over of the new government. The new board forced these banks to realign their strategies to be more pro-people, without looking at what was happening in other similar countries. In the name of being pro-people, these banks seriously compromised with their risk management, internal control, compliance, or even minimum possible governance standards. One can rest assured that this exercise of recapitalisation of major stateowned commercial banks is likely to continue with the new government, or even future governments, unless we stand up and say enough is enough. The finance ministers would be forced into appointing political cronies in the state-owned bank boards, the management would be told to disburse loans to the political loyalists otherwise bankrupt entities, and the banks would remain low-capitalised with poor risk management and weak information technology infra-structure. We have Sonali Bank, Janata Bank, Agrani Bank, and Rupali Bank. We have Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, and Bangladesh Development Bank. We Have Prabashi Kalyan Bank, ANSAR VDP Bank, and Karmashangsthan Bank. We also have BASIC Bank. All are owned and run by the state. More are coming. There has been talk of a womens development bank, and a freedom fighters bank too. Do we need so many SOBs? No. Did it help us in financial inclusion? Not really. Will it help us in the future? It wont. We need to change our track. We need to look back and move forward. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.
The ubiquity of camera phones, and their ability to affect surveillance, was seen even more starkly following the Boston Marathon Bombings in April 2013. Hordes of newly minted digital detectives rushed to forums such as reddit and 4chan to pore over thousands of images and videos taken by witnesses, in an attempt to identify the suspects. While the anarchic, leaderless nature of this search led to misidentifications and finger-pointing, users still had the resources to assess the actions of almost everyone present. It is easy to see the extensive surveillance applications of such new technologies. In his book,The Net Delusion, Belarusian political scientist Evgeny Morozov is a strong opponent of what he calls iPod Liberalism, a technological-determinist notion that increased connectivity will necessarily cause dictatorships to crumble. In fact, he sees the internet offering increasing opportunity for repressive regimes to corral opinion, rather than censor it; distract citizens, rather than engage them; and listen to their private phone calls, rather than their public discourse. In this context, is it any surprise that Ukraines government has made use of the increased GPS capabilities of modern smartphones to track protestors in real-time? It is true that such actions smack of totalitarianism. While we may condemn Ukrainian authorities, it would perhaps be remiss to overlook the toolswehave embraced which enable government repression. By adopting devices and services without thinking of the consequences, we have in part reaped a whirlwind of our own creation. When we carry a device which constantly tracks our location, stores our communication, and catalogues the minutiae of our day to day life, is it really a surprise that the power of this technology can be turned against us? l Peter Ramage established theGrafton Project, a New Zealand-based policy-focused think-tank/blog. This article was previously published in Alochonaa.
We need solutions on the sharing of the Teesta river water, and an end to the killings of Bangladeshi nationals at the border
We have many pending issues with India which need serious attention. The stalled Teesta River Agreement is an example. There are 54 shared rivers between India and Bangladesh. India sometimes unilaterally builds dams on our rivers and deprives us of our rightful share of water. We need solutions on the sharing of the Teesta
jured, and 175 people were abducted. 49 were brought back by the BGB, but 126 went missing. India has land borders with Pakistan, China, and Nepal as well. But border forces there are not killing people like in the Bangladesh border. What prompted them to do such a heinous crime? It is
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk
Ayub Bachchu will release his five new songs on Grameenphone today. The five songs are: Allahay Ke Kokhon Jay Chole, Kichhu Muhurto, Kemon Achho Nagorik Shokal, Joler Ki Dosh and Bashi Khabar. Lyricist Niaz Ahmed and Rabiul Islam have written four songs of the album and another one was written by Ayub Bachchu. He has also composed all the songs in the album. This is the first time Ayub Bachchu is releasing his songs on the digital media. Regarding the digital release, Bachchu said: Nowadays piracy has become a curse for the music
from the deep of my heart. Overall, the songs are excellent and the audience will hopefully find these notes in my new songs. LRBs last album was Juddho. Ayub Bachchus solo album titled Bolini Kokhono was released five years back. l
Artwork by Mohammad Iqbal daily activities, rural object and many more. His composition displays a ceremonial simplicity and the use of symbols is undemanding. His colour compositions dovetail with the emotion of people and the beauty of nature. Mohammad Iqbal stepped into the Bangladeshi art arena in the 1990s. His philosophical themes and experimental paintings are recognised for their impulsive spirit. His compositions and themes took a demanding space as his works explained a powerful interplay of figures and space. Mohammad Iqbals paintings are captivated with various evident and indistinct figures such as, oppressed people and spirituality. In his paintings, he emphasises on the bitter realities of society. His approach through his sensible presentation, the series of Unknown Faces is dominated by children whom he regards as neglected and mistreated. Through the oval shaped faces, it shows their dreams and the pain on their eyes. Bauls and sages also were also portrayed on his canvas representing the philosophy of Bauls life. Spirituality and saintliness are very apparent on his paintings. He has painted bearded faces, along with red clothing, beads, and horns of buffalo, animals, talisman and trident. He also painted middle aged figures, rivers, hills, vessels and ancient edifice. Professors Burhanuddin Khan Jahangir, Muntassir Mamun and Syed Manzoorul Islam, along with poet Rabiul Hussain inaugurated the exhibition on February 6. The exhibition will continue till March 1. This is a part of a two-series exhibition; one is currently taking place at Gallery Twenty One and the other will be held at Gallery Chayamachi in Osaca, Japan. l
ON TV
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7:10pm Zee Studio
The Lion King
9:30pm WB
COMEDY
10:00am Comedy Central
Arrested Development
MISC
Famed band Maqsood O Dhaka performs at day long Jibanananda Utsab celebrating the 115th birth anniversary of the legendary poet Jibanananda Das at the B M College, Barisal on February 17
10:00am TLC
Jamie At Home
10:00pm FTV
Fashion Divas
n Shadma Malik
Sudip Chakroborthy, a multitalented and passionate theatre activist, has recently founded an organisation titled TheatrEX with the aim to give a platform for theatre practice to the ex-students of DU theatre department. The troupe is all set to stage its debut production Kobor by Munier Chowdhury on February 21-22 in Belonia, India and February 27-28 in Dhaka University campus. Along with twelve former students from the department of Theatre and Performance Studies, TheatrEX has begun its journey. Sudip is the chief director. Sudip told the Dhaka Tribune; We have brainstormed to form the theatre troupe for around two years. After an immense effort, we are now able to debut our very first production. Asking what makes the troupe different from others, Sudip said; These former students have institutional education on theatrical
performance. On the other hand, the team will be involved with extensive research, conducting seminar, developing performing at the international arena. Moreover, our plays will be focused mostly on burning issue and classic plays by international playwright. Also we will welcome creative affiliation in set designing and direction from theatre activists of other campuses, he added. TheatrEX will participate in the upcoming Tin Forest International Theatre Festival by the National Theatre of Scotland at Glasgow which will bring together ten selected youth theatre companies from Commonwealth countries. The theatre troupe will stage an awareness based production on Sundarbans. TheatrEX will also take part in the festival contacting the World 2014 which will take place in Manchester from July 7 to 13. They will stage the same play on Sundarbans and Kobor. l
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition Dance
3rd Kibria Print Fair Time: 3pm 8pm, Dhaka Art Center, Dhanmondi R/A
Dont Ask, Dont Tell By Goethe Institut Time: 7:30pm 10:00pm, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy
Popular actors Anisur Rahman Milon and Shokh, will be seen together in Rahmatullah Tuhins single-episode drama Nagorik Bunophule written by Shetu Arif. The shooting of the drama was completed last Monday and it will soon be broadcasted on small screen
Sport
aware of the shortcomings Bangladesh had shown. Speaking of his own dismissal and the catches the Tigers dropped, Shamsur said, I was not casual. I slipped and the bat got stuck just before the crease mark. I would have reached the crease hundred times out of hundred. If these little things went our way, we would have won the game. If we had taken the catches, they would have been bowled out for 80odd. They scored an additional hundred runs, and the match slipped out of our grasp. Having lost the first ODI after having Sri Lanka at 67/8, the team came in for much criticism and Shamsur said the team management had talked to the players about handling pressure, The coach and captain, and also senior players have told us how to handle tight situations and play under pressure. The Asia Cup and World T20 are coming up so we have to learn from these mistakes and look forward positively. Meanwhile, veterans Tamim Iqbal and Mashrafe bin Mortaza who missed the first game Tamim with a neck strain and Mashrafe due to an ankle problem are both doing well and likely to play today, said Shamsur, though the final decision will be made after the team physio assesses their condition. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 2 4
DAYS TO GO
14 Barcelona,
15 Nadal makes
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim (4L) juggles with the football while his teammates look on during their training session at the SBNS in Dhaka yesterday
AFP
PROBABLE XI
Bangladesh Shamsur Rahman, Anamul Haque (wk), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Shakib al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mahmudullah/Naeem Islam, Sohag Gazi, Arafat Sunny, Al-Amin Hossain/Mashrafe Mortaza, Rubel Hossain Sri Lanka Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Angelo Mathews (capt), Thisara Perera, Suranga Lakmal, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga Meanwhile, Naeem Islam was not selected for the first ODI and the middleorder batsman, who scored 163 runs at an average of 54.33 in Bangladeshs last home series against New Zealand last year, should be considered in place of Mahmudullah who had a very quiet outing having dropped a catch and also a two-ball duck. Naeem also gives the option of an off-spinner in the side, something the home side expects from Mahmudullah.
The bowling remains unquestioned for Sohag Gazi but the 22-yearold, who has the potential to play matured innings, must also show more responsibility with the bat. Rubel Hossain and Al Amin Hossain on debut did a fantastic job with the new ball as the pair shared three most crucial Sri Lankan wickets to set the tone. However, the partnership can be broken with Mashrafe bin Mortaza returning to the side today. The veteran fast bowler was sidelined in the previous game with an ankle injury and Al Almin, despite a satisfactory game, will have to sacrifice his place if the Narail Express is fit to play. And the last thing the Bangladesh team needs to go against them is the fielding. After a series of brilliant catches in the T20s, the Tigers dropped dollies in daylight that came back to hunt them in the evening. Tamim Iqbal missed the first ODI with a neck strain and he is still unlikely to play today. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan camp will want to secure the ODI series and also keep their 100% winning record in the tour intact. The top three Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara are mature players and they will once again carry the baton for Sri Lanka. With the series at stake, skipper Angelo Mathews is unlikely to tinker with the playing XI and given the firepower he has, he doesnt need to. l
Models displaying the team fan shirts in the merchandising unveiling programme at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel yesterday
14
Morrison joins QPR on loan
Ravel Morrison has joined English Championship (second tier) club Queens Park Rangers on loan from West Ham United, the clubs announced on Wednesday. Midfielder Morrison, a former Manchester United trainee, has fallen out of favour at the east London club despite making a bright start to the season that had some observers touting him for a possible England call-up. However, the 21-year-old has not started a Premier League match since December, amid reports of a fallout with manager Sam Allardyce. Reuters
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Manchester City's Martin Demichelis (R) fouls Barcelona's Lionel Messi to concede a penalty during their Champions League round of 16 first leg soccer match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England on Tuesday REUTERS
RESULTS
Leverkusen
0 4 0 2
Paris SG
Man City
Barcelona
Some people have been doing a lot of talking, nothing new there with one of them, and hopefully this will make them shut up for a few days. Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini blamed Eriksson for tilting the
game in Barcelonas favour. I think that the referee decided the game, he said. Before the penalty there was the foul on (Jesus) Navas, when he (Eriksson) was three metres from the player, so he saw it without any problem. From the beginning I felt that the referee was not impartial to both teams. The penalty on Martin Demichelis was not a penalty it was outside the box. - PSG untroubled in Germany While that match remained tight until the end, the other game was over as a contest by half-time as PSG overwhelmed a side that lost 10-2 on aggregate to Barcelona the last time they appeared in this stage of the competition two years ago. Blaise Matuidi scored the opener and Ibrahimovic the other two, the second of those a scorching effort from
outside the box. The hosts chances of at least getting a goal back decreased markedly when Bosnian international defender Emir Spahic who had been responsible for conceding the penalty that Ibrahimovic scored for his first goal was sent off for a second bookable offence. PSG grabbed a fourth late in the game through recent signing Yohan Cabaye. We had a good start and when you are one goal up, its easier, it gives you space, said Ibrahimovic. We had a good first half and continued to play our game after the break, when they played with one less, so it was a good day. PSG coach Laurent Blanc, who is bidding to bring France only their second ever win in the competition with Marseille having won it in 1993, was delighted with the performance. l
FIXTURES
Makachkala Juventus Esbjerg Liberec Dnipro Chornomorets Dynamo Kiev PAOK Swansea Porto Betis Maribor Viktoria Pilsen Lazio Ajax Maccabi v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v Genk (BEL) Trabzonspor Fiorentina AZ Alkmaar Tottenham Lyon Valencia Benfica Napoli Frankfurt Rubin Kazan Sevilla Shakhtar Ludogorets Salzburg Basel
Swansea City resume their European adventure with the visit of Serie A heavyweights Napoli to south Wales. Swansea, who sacked manager Michael Laudrup earlier this month, were knocked out of the FA Cup at Everton over the weekend but a glamorous fixture against one of Italys leading clubs should make for a special evening for a club that almost tumbled out of the Football League just over a decade ago.
It promises to be a great occasion at the Liberty, Napoli are having a good season in Italy and were under no illusions about how tough it is going to be, said goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel. But well be focussed, well prepare well and we want to get a good result ahead of the second leg. Gonzalo Higuains status is uncertain with the striker struggling with a back problem, while goalkeeper Pepe Reina is also an injury concern for Napoli boss Rafael Benitez, who steered Chelsea to the title last season. Benitez is well acquainted with English opposition having also spent seven years at Liverpool and knows the Italians cannot afford to underestimate Swansea. It will be extremely difficult, as Swansea play good football and wont let us keep possession for long. Italian league leaders Juventus were the most notable casualty from the Champions League group stage, but Antonio Conte insists they will still take Europes second-tier club competition seriously. Were still disappointed to have gone out of the Champions League... but after two years in which Juve have grown immensely, we now have the aim of winning something in Europe, said Conte, who has set his side the objective of winning both Serie A and the Europa League. Three-time winners Juve host Turkish side Trabzonspor -- unbeaten in this years competition -- in the first leg in Turin, while last years losing finalists Benfica travel to Greek outfit PAOK. l
Fifa Secretary General Jerome Valcke arrives to speak about the status of the host city Curitiba ahead of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Santa Catarina state on Tuesday REUTERS
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
Pakistan to probe fixing in domestic Twenty20
Pakistan Tuesday said it would investigate allegations of match fixing in a domestic Twenty20 match last week. Former batsman Basit Ali made the charges over the T20 Cup match between the Sialkot Stallions and Karachi Dolphins on February 11. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it had appointed a threeman committee to probe his claims. Basit openly criticised the match in television commentary after Sialkot, who had already qualified for the knock-out stages, were bowled out for a paltry 91 in the last group match. They then did not try to win the match against a weak Karachi side who were by then out of the knock-out stages. I saw that batsmen were getting out deliberately and then Sialkot did not try to defend the total by bowling non-regular bowlers, Basit told AFP. Led by former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, Sialkot lost the match by six wickets. Sialkot protested over the allegations by playing their next match on February 12 with black armbands and successfully demanded Basits removal from the commentary panel. The PCB said the fact-finding committee would submit its report to PCB chief operating officer Subhan Ahmed within a week. l
QUICK BYTES
Saint Gregorys High School and Dhaka Residential Model School breezed to the final of the boys Milk Man Mini Handball Tournament after beating their respective opponents in the semifinals yesterday. Gregorys defeated Sunnydale by 23 19 in the days first semi at the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium while Dhaka Residential beat BAF Shaheen 9 6 to book a place in the final. Meanwhile in the girls section, Scholastica, Viqarunnisa Noon School, Sunnydale and Green Herald reached the semi-finals after winning their respective quarterfinal matches yesterday. Tribune Desk
Womens world number one Serena Williams eased into the third round of the WTA Dubai Open on Tuesday in her first match back since injuring her back at the Australian Open beating Ekaterina Makarova 7 6 (10/8), 6 0. The 32-year-ols American had a decent tussle in the first set having to save two set points against the world number 24 from Russia before settling into her groove to romp through the second set. Williams, who took a last moment wild card into this tournament, began gingerly and took about an hour before she hit the ball with anything like her usual authority. Once she started to do that, she prevailed more quickly, finishing the match feeling more hopeful that it might have been the right decision to compete again for the first time in four weeks. It was really difficult at first and I was a little bit frustrated, Williams admitted. I have been practising and this wasnt what I had been practising. AFP
Sri Lankan cricketers attend a team training session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka yesterday
AFP
Spains public prosecutor sought Wednesday a criminal tax indictment against Barcelona football club over the signing of Brazilian star Neymar, a copy of the filing showed. The prosecutor believes Barca owe the taxman a total of 9.1 million euros ($12.5 million, 7.5 million) in two agreements reached, firstly in 2011 and then finally in 2013 to bring the player to the Spanish champions from Santos. Barcelona paid 10 million euros to a company controlled by the players parents, N&N, in 2011 with the intention of signing the player in 2014. However, they brought that plan forward by a year to complete the deal via a complicated series of contracts last May. Barcelona declined to comment on the matter until they have taken legal advice. The clubs former president Sandro Rosell resigned last month over the judicial wrangle sparked Neymars singing, which the club said cost 57.1 million. The process was started by a complaint being made by one of Barcas own members Jordi Cases against Rosell for misappropriation of funds for not declaring publicly that 40 million of the 57.1 million figure quoted by Barca was paid to N&N. However, in a press conference following Rosells resignation, the club revealed that the entire cost of the operation including Neymars signing bonus, commissions, marketing deals, a donation to the players foundation and other collaborative agreements amounted to a total of 86.2 million euros. AFP
and defend our title which we won with the same captain, Misbah-ul Haq, he told reporters after the first day of the camp. Pakistan face Sri Lanka on the opening day of the tournament, which also includes India and Afghanistan. I think its important to take out the fear of failure, which I saw previously in the team, said Khan. He was manager of the team on the last tour to the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the one-day series 3-2 and squared the three-match Test series 1-1. The team will fly to Dhaka on February 22. l
Gilchrist to join Warne in Afghans shrug Bangladesh away, again Lords bicentenary match
Adam Gilchrist will be behind the stumps to fellow Australia great Shane Warne one more time after his involvement in the Lords bicentenary match was confirmed on Tuesday. Gilchrist will be a member of the Rest of the World team captained by Warne that will play Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the owners of Lords, in a one-day match on July 5 celebrating the London grounds 200th anniversary. Im privileged to have been asked to play in this match on such an exciting occasion, Gilchrist said in a statement issued Tuesday. Lords is a wonderful place to play cricket and Im really looking forward to helping celebrate its bicentenary in this match. There are going to be a lot of familiar faces around and itll be a lot of fun to play alongside a couple of old teammates too. Meanwhile former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait and New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori have also been added to the line-up of leading players taking part. India hero Sachin Tendulkar will captain a MCC side that also includes his long-time international colleague and Rahul Dravid. Their fellow India batsman Yuvraj Singh, is also set to play in the fixture at the home of cricket as is West Indies mainstay Shivnarine Chanderpaul. l Afghanistan once again shrugged Bangladesh off in a major tournament as the emerging nation pushed the young Tigers away from reaching the Cup phase in the Under-19 World Cup. Bangladesh lost to Australia by 74 runs while the Afghans recorded a win against their opponents Namibia by four wickets in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Bangladesh, who began their final Group B game at top, slipped to third handing the spot to Australia while Afghanistan moved to second place with a better net run-rate. Bangladesh had earlier defeated Afghanistan and Namibia, but one defeat yesterday shattered their dreams of reaching the Cup phase, and now they will compete in the Plates. The win took Afghanistan to four points, and the fact that they reached their 193-run target in just 25.3 overs moved their net run-rate above that of Bangladesh. The final equation was something that the young Tigers had experienced a month back as well in the U-19 Asia Cup. Bangladesh had beaten
GROUP B STANDINGS
Teams Australia Afghanistan Bangladesh Namibia M 3 3 3 3 W 2 2 2 0 L Pts NRR 1 4 +0.927 1 4 +0.881 1 4 +0.097 3 0 -1.920
Afghanistan and Malaysia before they lost to Sri Lanka in their final group match which resulted in their elimination to the Afghans via runrate. Opting to bat first, the Australians found it difficult to score runs off the
Bangladeshi spinners and were 123-4 in 36 overs before Jake Doran played an unbeaten innings of 99 to carry them to a challenging 244-6. However, even after losing Joyraz Sheikh (one) in the third over Bangladesh looked composed with the 70-run second wicket partnership between in-form batsman Shadman Islam and Liton Das. After Liton departed on 47, Shadman paired with Mosaddek Hossain to add 48 runs. However, both batsmen were dismissed in the space of two runs leaving the youths in a shaky position of 130-4. Shadman, who scored a hundred and a fifty in the previous two matches, was unlucky to get run-out on 49 while Mosaddek made 29. Their dismissals triggered a major collapse as Bangladesh lost their remaining wickets for 40 runs only. They were all out for 170. l
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 7:00AM Minnesota v Indiana 9:30AM L.A. Lakers v Houston Star Sports 4 3:25 PM Sochi Winter Olympic Games 2014 Day 13 Ten Cricket 2:30 PM Australia Tour of South Africa 2014 2nd Test: Day 1 Ten Action Uefa Europa League 12:00 AM Leg 1: FC Dnipro v Tottenham Ten HD Uefa Europa League 12:00 AM Leg 1: Juventus v Trabzonspor Ten Sports Uefa Europa League 12:00 AM Leg 1 Swansea v Napoli
counter to Johnson
that had been disproved by results in first-class cricket in recent years. If you look at matches that have been played here in the past three or four seasons, you will see that myth has been buried years ago. What I do expect, though, is a pitch with some pace and bounce, which may help the seamers a little early on. While Australia seem certain to go in with an unchanged team, especially since it is unlikely that all-rounder Watson is unlikely to be fully fit to bowl as he recovers from a calf strain, South Africa have a dilemma regarding the number seven batting position. All-rounder Ryan McLaren, who batted at seven in the first Test, has been ruled out with mild concussion after being struck on the head by a Johnson bouncer in Centurion. Selection convener Andrew Hudson said on Monday that South Africa might opt for a specialist batsman to strengthen the batting, which would mean a recall for the left-handed Dean Elgar. The other option is to include home town all-rounder, left-arm pace bowler Wayne Parnell, who would add to an attack which was disappointing in Centurion. l
Rafael Nadal returns the ball to Daniel Gimeno Traver during the 2014 Rio Open at the Jockey Club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Tuesday AFP game of the second set but answered by breaking back in the third game and again in the 11th, then served out for the victory, improving to 10-0 on Brazilian soil, a run that includes titles in 2005 at Costa do Sauipe and last year at Sao Paulo. Next up for the 27-year-old lefthander from Mallorca is another compatriot, 72nd-ranked Albert Montanes, who ousted Dutchman Robin Haase 6-1, 7-6 (7/4). Yet another Spaniard, second seed Ferrer, could await Nadal in the final. Ferrer launched his bid for a Rio crown by downing Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-3. l
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
As of yesterday, the government already procured 233,000 tonnes of Aman. However, millers contracted by the government said there was a shortage of coarse rice in the market as Aman harvesting ended a month and a half ago. A food directorate official said the government could achieve the new target as it had already signed deals with suppliers for 291,000 tonnes. Most of the millers who have already signed contracts with the government will provide their stocks despite incurring losses to avoid being removed from the governments list of suppliers, said Nirod Baran Saha, president of Naogaon Rice Wholesalers Association. As per official data, the production cost per kg rice is Tk25.42, but millers say the actual cost is about Tk33 per kg, which is Tk3 more than the governments procurement rate.
Some millers had already had their licences cancelled, while the rest had been supplying the government with cheaper imports from India, Nirod said. Quazi Shahabuddin, former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said the government decision would increase food reserves. In regards to the possible financial losses facing millers, he said they always manage to make a profit in any situation. The rice and flour OMS from March 2 would cover all district towns, except those in Rajshahi and Rangpur where only wheat would be provided until the Aman procurement was complete, Moinul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune. The price of OMS rice has been fixed at Tk24 per kg and wheat at Tk20. The government usually starts OMS of food essentials in all major towns and cities to the pressure on low-income groups. l
RAJIB DHAR
126
Two other airports also received bodies but did not specify whether the deaths were natural or unnatural.
Expressing deep concern over the deaths, the expatriates welfare minister said even a single death of such nature would be tragic. The average age of these ill-fated migrants was between 30 and 40. We will take steps to stop such deaths. We have already taken initiatives to reduce the migration cost. A migrant now goes to Malaysia at only Tk27,000, and to Saudi Arabia at Tk17,400, the minister told journalists. In reply to a question, the minister said: It is unfortunate that we could not make any database of the migrants who returned, but we are trying build one now, he said. The government has statistics on those who have migrated, but no statistics on those who return. l
n Ahmed Zayeef
Many publication houses have published books on different historical revolutionists as an initiative to inspire the new generation with the life-histories of the revolutionists. Different publishers opined that though the revolutionists had sacrificed their lives for the emancipation of the people, people know little about their legacies. The publishers think that such books will help the new generation to determine their lifestyle for the betterment of the society. Biplobider Kotha Prokashoni launched a stall in the Amar Ekushey Book Fair for the first time this year. They brought out a
total of 30 books on different revolutionists, such as Khudiram, Pritilota, Ila Mitro, Shurjoshen, Jotin Dash, Hugo Chavez, Nelson Mandela and Che Guevara. Sheikh Rofique, publisher of the house, told the Dhaka Tribune: These people [revolutionists] fought for peoples rights. They always dreamt of an egalitarian society. With a view to spread the real story of their lives among the common people, I took the initiative. Most of these books are compilations of various articles or stories of the particular revolutionist, as it is very hard to get a clear concept about their lives and works from a single source. Apart from this publication, Shonghoti Prokashoni, Shongho Prokashon, Gono Prokashon, Prothoma, Rodela and Jatiya Shahitya Prokashoni also published books on revolutionists such as Lenin, Carl Marx, Shukanto, Shuvash Basu, Nolini Dash, Barun Roy, Anil Mukharjee and Moni singh. Publishers said people were showing interest in these books, adding that the sales were also satisfactory.
Meanwhile, book lovers who attended the fair yesterday had to suffer a lot as Dhaka Metropolitan police withdrew the roadblock from the TSC to Doyel Chattar. The move was taken as roads adjacent to the central Shaheed Minar were closed for the preparation of the February 21 International Mother Language Day. As there was no barricade on the road adjacent to the Bangla Academy, huge traffic congestion was created in front of the fair. A total of 126 new books were released yesterday, including Muhammad Zafar Iqbals Anyman from Shomoy Prokashon, Syed Shamsul Haques Hrithkolomer Tane from Nandonik Prokashoni, Ahsan Habibs Kishor Omonibash from Salma Book Depo, and Mohit Kamals Adhare Alor Dheu from Biddyaprokash. Five new books were unveiled at the Nazrul Mancha of Bangla Academy. A discussion titled Antorjatik Porjaye Nozrul Chorcha Proshongge was held at the central stage of the fair, where poet Mohammod Nurul Huda presented the key note paper. l
The wedding ceremony of Parul and Surya drew a huge crowd comprising university teachers, government officials and people from all walks of life DHAKA TRIBUNE
haviour towards Harijan was held. Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University VC Professor Dr Mohit Ul Alam, Mymensing Deputy Commissioner Mustakim Billah Faruqi, and Mymensingh Municipality Mayor Iqramul Haque Titu were just some of the public figures who attended.
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093 94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
Business
B3 S&P: Bangladeshs
sovereign rating unchanged
10
2
Private consumption will partly hold up due to rise in wages and civil servants allowances, while subdued private investment will be partly offset by higher public investment
4
Restoring consumer and investor confidence is the major economic challenge
7
Managing unplanned urbanization emerging as a major challenge
9
Subdued domestic and external demand will lower industry sector growth in FY2014
A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC
ADB: Economic outlook remains subdued due to low remittance, weak demands
n Tribune Report
Reviving economic activities and restoring investor confidence after the national election held on January 5 is the major economic challenge for Bangladesh, says Asian Development Bank. However, economic outlook for FY2014 remains subdued due to decline in remittances and weak domestic demand affected by prolonged unrest in the run up to the election. Bangladeshs short and medium-term growth prospects hinge on how the country addresses the short and medium-term risks and challenges, said the bank in its Quarterly Economic Update on Bangladesh released yesterday. Reviving economic activities and restoring consumer and investor confidence after the national election is the major economic challenge. Re-emergence of unrest will directly affect investment, growth and poverty reduction. Inflation may resurge due to supply disruptions and cost push factors, including wage increases, it apprehended. The ADB warned that a decrease in growth will affect employment creation for the annual incremental labor force of 18 lakh, which in turn will exacerbate economic and social problems. Fiscal space will be reduced causing higher bank borrowing to finance the fiscal deficit. An emerging major challenge centers on the transition of the countrys RMG industry, especially after the Savar tragedy, to meet demands for internationally accepted safety and labor standards, it said. Following the Savar tragedy, the government increased the minimum wage, and took initiatives to improve safety standards in partnership with the international business community and development partners. The transition will increase operating costs, which may reduce the industrys traditional price competitiveness. Coping with the transition process will be challenging for enterprises and the industry. The immediate challenge is to restore buyer confidence, which has been seriously undermined by recurrent
B3 COLUMN 1
BPC gets state guarantee for ITFC $200m loan for fuel oil import
n Asif Showkat Kallol
Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has secured the state-guarantee for getting a loan worth US$200m from the Islamic Trade and Finance Corporation (ITFC) to import fuel oil. The loan is being taken in accordance with a condition International Monetary Fund imposed under its Extended Credit Facility (ECF) to Bangladesh. Finance Minister AMA Muhith on 17 February had approved the credit summary of the loan, which incorporated two IMF conditions as Bangladesh continues to get international loans under IMFs Extended Credit Facility conditions, said an official of the finance division. According to the credit guarantee summary, BPCs credit from the ITFC, an associate of Islamic Development Bank, will never exceed IMF indicative target set for June 2014 under ECF arrangement. Besides, the BPC will deposit credit installment to the ITFC by the first week of every month. BPC will get the credit from ITFC under three stages Direct Murababa Trade Finance Operation installments $50m, $50m and $100m respectively. The interest of ITFC credit will be 4.45% for nine months, as per the summary. In line with complying with the condition of the IMF tagged fifth tranche releasing of total amount of $982.5m under ECF of the lender which will be due in next two months. The government has already reduced its borrowing from the ITFC. As part of it, BPC will borrow $1 billion from the ITFC during next Arabic year to comply with the IMF condition on indicative target on net suppliers credit and other short-term financing for oil import limit on March 31, $975m and on June 30, $775m. BPC data has showed that outstanding credits (net suppliers credit and shortterm finance) will be $903.93m on March 31 while on June 30, it will be $776.32m.
B3 COLUMN 6
desh earned $84.5m exporting plastic goods in the last financial year, up from $68.76m in the previous year. For the July-January period, the target was set to export $49.64, but the export was 7.68% less than the target. The government targetsto earn $89.5mfrom plastic goods export this fiscal. GSP suspension in the US market has affected the export earning of the sector, said BPGMEA general secretary KM Iqbal Hossain. He also blamed political unrest for the export decline as the production was hampered in the factories during the months of turmoil. Production was hampered while buyers didnt place orders due to the political violence, dragging us to face crisis,KM Iqbal Hossainstated. l
Worlds last operational DC will sale out as scrap after coming back in town
Aug 05, 1971 Aug, 1983
Feb 20, 2014 08:20am
10
Maiden voyage for passengers Joined Biman fleet Farewell flight today
A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC
B2
Stocks rebound after 4-day losses
n Tribune Report
Stocks rebounded yesterday after four consecutive sessions of losses on profit booking. Buying spree mainly on banking stocks and mutual funds helped the market recover sharply. The benchmark DSEX index gained over 77 points or 1.7% to end at 4,749. The Shariah-based DSES index was up 20 points or 2% to 994.The blue-chip comprising DS30 index ended at 1,687 with a rise of 31 points or 1.9%. financial and power stocks in buying radar, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis. Mutual funds came to spotlight on the day with rallying more than 2% ahead of annual declaration. Market bellwether banking issues continued to shine riding on its fall in non-performing loan on relaxed rules. The banking sector rose 1.4%, extending its gaining streak for the second straight session. All other major sectors turned positive with cement soaring over 3%, food and allied 2.7%, pharmaceuticals 2.3%, fuel and power 1.9%, engineering 1.5% and telecommunications 1.4%. IDLC Investment said market broke its bearish spell, as optimism resurfaced. Since, index lost 174 points from last week; investors observed lucrative price advantage. This assisted in creating a natural re-bounce, pushing up DSEX by 78 points. Lucrative price to NAV ratio in mutual funds knocked investors attention during the session. Consequently, seven mutual funds emerged in the top ten gainers list. Square Pharmaceuticals, the countrys top drug maker, was the most traded stocks with a turnover of Tk20 crore. It was followed by Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company, Prime Bank, Grameenphone, Southeast Bank, Olympic Industries, Meghna Petroleum and Generation Next. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.29 8.51 8.01 7.79 7.59 7.39 7.26 6.21 6.20 5.85
Kay & Que (BD) -Z 5th ICB M F A BSC A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A MBL 1st M. F.-A PrimeFin. 1st MF A CVO PetroChem RL Z BDCOM Online-A LafargeS Cement-Z Grameen1:Scheme2 -A CSE GAINERS Company AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A BSC A MBL 1st M. F.-A LafargeS Cement-Z PrimeFin. 1st MF A ICB Emp. PMF A Dhaka Bank -A Fareast Islami Life -A CVO PetroChem RL Z ICB AMCL3rd NRB MF A
Average (% change) 9.29 8.51 5.62 6.84 8.46 5.24 3.73 4.18 4.91 4.12 Average (% change) 7.31 5.67 8.94 4.95 7.19 4.36 5.46 5.25 5.06 3.65
Closing average 20.00 189.90 495.97 8.28 8.46 21.70 843.96 33.63 40.37 17.95
Closing 20.00 189.90 505.75 8.30 8.50 21.80 858.90 34.20 41.10 18.10
Daily high 20.00 189.90 505.75 8.40 8.60 22.20 860.00 34.90 41.40 18.40
Daily low 20.00 189.90 468.00 8.00 8.00 20.50 800.00 29.00 39.00 16.00
Turnover in million 0.020 0.038 67.489 9.641 31.968 12.122 29.607 18.640 68.634 13.686
Latest EPS -0.89 21.32 24.00 1.24 1.48 1.00 -4.06 1.70 1.63 1.70
Latest PE -ve 8.9 20.7 6.7 5.7 21.7 -ve 19.8 24.8 10.6
Closing (% change) 8.97 8.00 7.50 6.49 6.37 6.25 6.16 5.64 5.35 5.26
Closing average 8.37 496.82 8.65 40.32 21.91 6.70 22.20 117.94 850.96 5.97
Closing 8.50 506.50 8.60 41.00 21.70 6.80 22.40 118.00 853.30 6.00
Daily high 8.50 506.50 8.80 41.00 22.20 6.80 22.50 120.00 860.00 6.00
Daily low 8.10 466.00 7.90 39.50 21.70 6.40 21.90 110.00 849.00 5.80
Turnover in million 0.435 22.464 1.125 5.968 0.252 0.238 0.185 0.028 0.711 0.329
Latest EPS 1.24 24.00 1.48 1.63 1.00 0.52 1.04 4.60 -4.06 0.42
Latest PE 6.8 20.7 5.8 24.7 21.9 12.9 21.3 25.6 -ve 14.2
Since, index lost 174 points from last week; investors observed lucrative price advantage
The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, rose 126 points to close at 9,332. Supported by natural buying pressure, turnover increased almost 10% from previous session to Tk382 crore. Banking sector accounted for the lions share of total market turnover with 18.27% contribution. Market reclaimed 4,700-mark proudly after a weeklong correction in index. Buyers are clawing back in the market mostly keeping
(+) 1.66% (+) 2.09% (+) 1.89% (+) 1.48% (+) 1.74% (+) 1.37%
Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
-2.00
Average (% change) -6.79 -1.54 -7.59 -3.22 -2.86 -2.28 -2.57 -2.00 -1.28
Closing average 24.70 8.33 180.00 466.15 850.00 87.71 311.67 29.89 29.27
Closing 24.70 8.20 181.70 466.30 850.10 87.30 311.70 29.80 28.90
Daily high 24.70 8.50 185.00 475.00 852.00 90.00 315.00 30.40 30.00
Daily low 24.70 8.20 178.00 460.00 850.00 85.00 304.10 29.30 27.60
Turnover in million 0.025 0.120 0.711 1.212 0.595 3.872 0.187 0.284 2.450
Latest EPS -0.04 -25.08 6.44 3.04 30.36 2.13 5.25 -5.96 0.28
Latest PE -ve -ve 28.0 153.3 28.0 41.2 59.4 -ve 104.5
-3.05
9.86
9.80
10.10
9.60
0.350
-4.58
-ve
Closing (% change) -8.17 -3.31 -2.28 -2.27 -1.82 -1.82 -1.71 -1.61 -1.30
Prime Islami Life -A Prime Insur -A Usmania Glass -Z Aziz PipesZ Meghna Life Ins. -A Rupali Life Insur.-A AFC AgroBiotech-N 6th ICB M F A R. N. Spinning-Z
-1.14
Average (% change) -7.80 -3.23 -2.28 -2.27 -1.79 -1.81 -0.71 -1.61 -1.68
Closing average 110.64 35.00 150.00 21.50 134.60 102.61 69.69 61.00 30.50
Closing 110.20 35.00 150.00 21.50 134.60 102.60 69.00 61.00 30.40
Daily high 120.00 35.00 150.00 21.50 134.60 103.00 71.20 61.00 30.90
Daily low 110.00 35.00 150.00 21.50 134.60 102.50 68.10 61.00 30.10
Turnover in million 0.116 0.018 0.015 0.002 0.013 0.263 14.914 0.006 1.723
Latest EPS 4.95 2.56 5.10 0.59 6.45 5.33 1.53 6.54 6.11
Latest PE 22.4 13.7 29.4 36.4 20.9 19.3 45.5 9.3 5.0
-0.67
51.91
52.00
53.00
47.50
0.957
1.12
46.3
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A Prime Bank-A Grameenphone-A RAK Ceramics-A Southeast Bank-A
Olympic Ind. -A
ANALYST
Market reclaimed 4,700-mark proudly after a weeklong correction in index. Buyers are clawing back in the market mostly keeping financial and power stocks in buying radar
CSE Total
DSE Million Taka 680.79 191.20 195.01 243.94 212.01 400.31 0.96 340.37 469.88 0.37 14.55 40.49 138.56 154.08 61.82 53.44 180.06 314.71 36.45 97.44 0.21
% change 17.79 5.00 5.10 6.37 5.54 10.46 0.03 8.89 12.28 0.01 0.38 1.06 3.62 4.03 1.62 1.40 4.71 8.22 0.95 2.55 0.01
Million Taka 51.94 15.96 8.81 53.98 12.85 23.46 35.32 43.77 2.48 3.56 3.62 10.10 11.88 2.06 5.24 50.83 8.41 28.00 0.02
% change 13.95 4.29 2.37 14.50 3.45 6.30 0.00 9.49 11.76 0.00 0.67 0.96 0.97 2.71 3.19 0.55 1.41 13.65 2.26 7.52 0.01
Million Taka 732.72 207.16 203.82 297.92 224.85 423.77 0.96 375.70 513.65 0.37 17.03 44.05 142.18 164.18 73.69 55.50 185.30 365.54 44.86 125.45 0.23
% change 17.45 4.93 4.85 7.10 5.36 10.09 0.02 8.95 12.23 0.01 0.41 1.05 3.39 3.91 1.76 1.32 4.41 8.71 1.07 2.99 0.01
Delta Life Insu. -A Mercantile Bank -A Jamuna Oil -A LafargeS Cement-Z BSC A LankaBangla Fin. -A Titas Gas TDCLA Padma Oil Co. -A UCBL - A Delta SpinnersA
Company
Volume shares 785,972 791,246 6,456,757 682,417 2,563,768 5,128,906 572,558 324,379 2,740,610 1,231,500
321,050 4,256,290 313,626 1,700,000 136,075 978,983 801,938 137,937 1,519,327 1,011,700
Value in million 203.18 172.94 157.45 141.77 127.21 122.42 113.91 91.91 87.41 85.79
84.86 83.15 73.05 68.63 67.49 67.47 66.46 45.55 44.40 42.79
% of total turnover 5.31 4.52 4.11 3.70 3.32 3.20 2.98 2.40 2.28 2.24
2.22 2.17 1.91 1.79 1.76 1.76 1.74 1.19 1.16 1.12
Daily closing 261.40 219.80 24.30 208.30 51.40 23.80 202.70 285.50 31.80 69.00
264.10 19.80 234.60 41.10 505.75 68.40 82.80 331.60 29.30 42.60
Price change 3.73 2.85 -0.41 1.21 1.18 1.28 4.38 2.66 1.27 -1.85
0.53 4.76 2.31 6.20 8.01 -0.58 1.72 1.19 2.45 3.65
Daily opening 252.00 213.70 24.40 205.80 50.80 23.50 194.20 278.10 31.40 70.30
262.70 18.90 229.30 38.70 468.25 68.80 81.40 327.70 28.60 41.10
266.90 20.00 245.00 41.40 505.75 70.20 83.60 345.00 29.60 42.80
Daily high
Daily high 263.00 225.00 25.00 209.00 52.50 24.10 204.90 295.00 32.40 71.40
263.00 17.10 209.50 39.00 468.00 63.00 74.00 318.00 26.00 40.00
Daily low
Daily low 234.00 195.10 22.00 195.00 46.00 21.50 179.00 260.00 28.30 67.80
Daily average 258.51 218.57 24.39 207.75 49.62 23.87 198.94 283.34 31.89 69.67
264.30 19.54 232.91 40.37 495.97 68.92 82.88 330.24 29.23 42.29
Volume shares
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
Eastern Cables-Z BSC A Grameenphone-A AFC AgroBiotech-N Square Pharma -A UCBL - A aamra technologies-A LankaBangla Fin. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Mercantile Bank -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-A UNITED AIR A Delta SpinnersA Southeast Bank-A LafargeS Cement-Z Olympic Ind. -A
152,179 250,200 45,215 84,600 214,000 49,337 404,251 202,545 109,550 240,600 357,655 130,960 397,668 144,200 253,584 148,000 29,500
Value in million
33.28 26.27 22.46 17.54 14.91 12.76 11.77 8.27 7.60 7.56 7.00 6.35 6.26 6.12 6.06 5.97 5.89
% of total turnover
8.94 7.06 6.03 4.71 4.01 3.43 3.16 2.22 2.04 2.03 1.88 1.71 1.68 1.65 1.63 1.60 1.58
Daily closing
220.00 106.80 506.50 207.60 69.00 261.40 29.20 40.60 68.70 31.50 19.70 49.50 15.70 42.70 23.90 41.00 202.70
Price change
2.80 1.91 8.00 0.53 -1.71 3.57 2.46 1.75 -0.72 1.61 3.68 4.43 0.00 3.89 1.27 6.49 4.43
Daily opening
214.00 104.80 469.00 206.50 70.20 252.40 28.50 39.90 69.20 31.00 19.00 47.40 15.70 41.10 23.60 38.50 194.10
221.60 107.50 506.50 208.00 71.20 262.50 29.50 41.30 70.20 31.90 19.80 50.00 15.90 42.90 24.00 41.00 204.00
211.10 106.00 466.00 206.00 68.10 253.00 28.60 40.40 68.50 31.00 19.10 47.40 15.60 41.70 23.50 39.50 190.10
Daily average
218.72 105.00 496.82 207.35 69.69 258.53 29.11 40.81 69.33 31.43 19.56 48.52 15.73 42.47 23.88 40.32 199.56
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
ment reflects its difficult investment environment. We expect the main pillars of the economy--agriculture, remittances, and the garment export sector--to continue growing strongly in 2013-2016 as global demand recovers, it said. Substantial bilateral and multilateral donor support improves policy formulation and provides direct budgetary assistance. This donor support, together with foreign-sponsored education and health services to the general population, eases the burden on the Bangladesh government, it said. We project gross financing needs as a percentage of current account receipts plus usable reserves to average 82% over 2013-2016. That level indicates a comfortable external liquidity position as long as remittances and official transfers remain strong enough to outweigh the rising trade deficit, it said. Foreign exchange reserves have remained at about three months of current account payments, after the governments policy measures to counter the effects of weaker global demand. Growth in exports and remittance inflows also supported the reserves. We estimate Bangladeshs narrow net external debt to edge lower toward 25% of current account receipts in 2013 from more than 30% last year. l
B3
RMG stakeholders urged to work together n Tribune Report
Readymade garment owners and workers have been urged to work together with utmost sincerity and honesty to bridge the gap between them for the sake of ensuring an atmosphere congenial for facing any sort of crisis in the days ahead. Speakers came up with the plea in the city yesterday while addressing the inaugural session of the two-day training programme titled Promoting Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work in Bangladesh. The two-day programme, which is being funded by the US department of Labour, is organized by International Labour Organisation (ILO) Bangladesh and Department of Labor of Bangladesh government. The objective of the raining programme is to train 30 officials from the labour department more about the amended labour law that would facilitate the formation of trade unions and strengthen workers rights. Speaking as chief guest, state minister for labour and employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu urged the officers of the labour department to discharge their duties properly and responsively. Let us become a bit good and sincere to reap the maximum benefits under any challenging situation, said Mujibul. Pointing at the workers negligence in their duties, he said, Excuse of manpower shortage is nothing but a pretext. We have very good acts but there has been no implementation of those laws. Stressing on regular factory inspection, the minister said, After giving the approval of Rana Plaza building construction, no inspector visited the factory to check the procedures even in four years. If the proper inspection was done on regular basis it could be never happened, As we are now under the global scanner, we have to work hard to enrich the law of lands to ensure workers rights as it is a constitutional right for them, said Mikail Shipar, secretary of labour and employment ministry. l
n Tribune Report
The Standard & Poors (S&P) has continued to keep Bangladeshs credit ratings unchanged with a stable outlook, but warned of any incident of returning political unrest that might cause damage to the economy. The US-based global rating agency assigned the country BB- long-term and B short-term sovereign credit ratings in the last four years, according to a statement issued yesterday. Bangladesh is rated the second highest in South Asia behind India and ahead of Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The stable outlook balances strong growth prospects and a relatively good external profile against political pressures and development needs. Bangladeshs BB- rating is a non-investment grade, which indicates that the country is less efficient in paying off its debts. The political unrest before the national election raises risk but did not undermine the sovereign ratings, S&P said. These factors are balanced against lingering fiscal and inflation risks, and the impact that rising political disturbances related to the coming elections could have on the real economy, it said. In the report titled Election woes in Bangladesh and Thailand raise risk
but dont yet undermine sovereign ratings, the rating agency reviewed the impact of election related political unrest in Bangladesh and Thailand. It believes like in Thailand, political uncertainties will stay elevated in Bangladesh for sometime and they could hurt investor confidence and weaken economic activity, but the sovereign ratings of the government would remain unchanged over the next two years. The S&P, however, cautioned about any prolonged and widespread violence that could intensify political instability and cause damage to economy, which have been resilient to past political turmoil. We estimate government revenues at 13.8% of GDP this year, inclusive of grants, among the lowest of similarly rated sovereigns. On the expenditure side, various subsidies totaling about 3.5% of GDP further limit fiscal flexibility, despite some progress in curtailing fuel and electricity subsidies, it said. It said years of under-investment have resulted in pervasive energy and infrastructure deficiencies. These factors, combined with administrative and bureaucratic weaknesses, prevent Bangladesh from achieving higher growth. The countrys low ranking in international surveys and its limited attractiveness for foreign direct invest-
industrial accidents during the past two years, causing a shift of some buyers to invest in comparator countries like Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, and Viet Nam. Notwithstanding the limited effects of the United States withdrawal of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) facility, the withdrawal of the EU will significantly affect exports from the RMG industry and impact Bangladeshs macroeconomic stability, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
Restrained monetary policy stance since late 2011 is succeeding in decreasing the inflation rate
About growth prospect, the ADB said in FY2014 economic growth will mostly rely on exports and domestic absorption. For the sectors, agriculture growth is expected to rise because of the lower base in the past two years. The brisk industry sector growth in the fiscal year is expected to moderate because of work stoppages and supply disruptions caused by political unrest. This decrease in industrial activity
will likely slow service sector growth. Domestic absorption will mostly rely on private consumption and investment performance. Consumers and investors have adopted a cautious approach given the unrest during the past months. Notwithstanding the decline in remittance inflows, consumption will be partly stabilised by higher minimum wages for industrial workers announced in November 2013 and a 20% rise in civil servants allowances. Private investment is expected to stagnate due to confidence effect stemmed from pre-election unrest. The slowdown in private sector credit, decrease in industrial term loans, lower import of capital machinery, and rise in excess liquidity in the banking system points to lower private investment performance in FY2014. The donor agencies, however, termed macroeconomic policies broadly prudent and said the restrained monetary policy stance since late 2011 is succeeding in decreasing the inflation rate, which rose in recent months due to the wage push and supply disruptions. Notwithstanding the elevated target by Bangladesh Bank for private credit growth in its latest monetary policy statement, excess liquidity in the banking system has increased because of lower investment demand created by pre-election unrest. l
Japan says prices rising moderately for first time in more than five years
n Reuters
Japans government described consumer prices as rising moderately, using that wording for the first time since October 2008, a sign that the economy is making steady progress towards exiting 15 years of stubborn deflation. The government, in its monthly economic report on Wednesday, stopped short of declaring victory in its battle against deflation. But officials said signs that price rises are spreading justified the more upbeat description. The assessment, following a similar view on Tuesday by the Bank of Japan, comes even as the worlds third-biggest economy grows less than expected and faces headwinds from a looming salestax increase. Growth stagnated in the fourth quarter at an annualized 1% rate, a tick slower than the third quarter and well below forecasts of 2.8%, weighed by weak exports, private consumption and capital spending. This followed a big monthly drop in machinery orders, a leading gauge for business investment. One of Japans key trading partners and closest political allies, the United States, expressed concerned about the outlook. Japans economy has been largely driven by domestic demand over the last two years, but the outlook for domestic demand has clouded, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said in a letter, obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, to the Group of 20 big industrial and developing powers. Nonetheless, Japans Cabinet Office said in the monthly report that the economy is recovering moderately, backed by private consumption and pickup in capital spending. The fourth quarter growth undershot the market forecast but it still exceeded Japans potential growth rate, so its appropriate to describe the recovery as moderate, said an official in charge of compiling the report. Analysts say the success of Prime Minister Shinzo Abes strategy, which has got the economy motoring on a cocktail of hefty fiscal spending and monetary expansion, will depend on companies sustainably raising wages and spurring consumption and business investment. In last months report, the government described prices as holding firm. In December, the report dropped the word deflation for the first time in four years. The last time it said consumer prices were rising moderately was in 2008, when Japan faced commodity-driven inflation. In Wednesdays report, the government said the economy is expected to remain on a recovery trend, while citing risks from overseas economies and any decline in demand after the increase in the national sales tax. The government raised its view on exports - reflecting rising car shipments to Russia and the Middle East saying they are flat. Last month, it described shipments as weakening. The text reiterates a statement from previous reports that the government expects the BOJ to achieve its 2% inflation target at the earliest possible time. Many private economists are skeptical that the central bank can hit that target. The BOJ maintained its expansionary monetary policy on Tuesday and extended special loan programs to help buoy economic growth. BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda said the recovery remains on track. Core consumer prices, excluding fresh food but including energy costs, rose 1.3% in December from a year earlier, posting its fastest annual gain in more than five years. In a further sign of broadening price increases, the core-core inflation index, which excludes food and energy prices and is similar to the core index used in the United States, rose 0.7%, matching a high last hit in August 1998. l
The corporation had imported over 7m tones of fuel oil in the last year to run 49 mostly fuel-run power plants to generate an additional 5,319 megawatt of electricity by the end of 2013. The BPC buys petroleum oil at higher prices from the international market than the sales price at domestic market. As a result, the state-run company has to incur huge amount of financial losses every year. BPC had earlier signed a credit deal worth $855m with ITFC in April 2012 for importing the fuel oil to meet the local demands. The BPC had received $1.48bn loans from the ITFC in 2011 and the lender had also increased the loan amount by $0.52bn this year.l
To support the population and family planning activities of the government, RMG industry owners and protector of labour interest organisation, BGMEA and EngenderHealth Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a project, Mayer Hashi Family Planning in Bangladesh (MH II), funded by USAID. Reaz-bin-Mahmud, BGMEAs vice president (finance) and Dr Abu Jamil Faisel, country representative/executive director of EngenderHealth Bangladesh have signed the MoU on behalf of their organisations
BD Finance Capital Holdings Limited signed a brokerage service agreement with IDLC Securities Limited on Tuesday. Mohd Ahsan Ullah, managing director and CEO of BD Capital and Md Saifuddin, managing director of IDLC Securities Ltd signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies
Pubali Bank Limited yesterday announced the launch of VISA Debit Card. The launch signifies an increase in convenience and value generated by expanding on acceptance and advancement by the implementation of technology based modern banking. Helal Ahmed Chowdhury, the banks managing director and CEO, launched the VISA Debit Card as chief guest
Lotto, a world-renowned brand, opened a brand new flagship outlet at the Bashundhara City yesteday. Filippo Pellizzari, area manager, Lotto Sports Italia and Badrudduza Choudhury, deputy managing director and head of branch banking of The City Bank Limited graced the ribbon-cutting occasion
MM Ispahani Limited and British Council jointly inaugurated a forum named Professionals Connect yesterday. The forum will be a platform to develop and research on new ideas or add values to existing one with qualitative analysis and approach to develop a unique solution to every problem. Former adviser of the caretaker government Rokia Afzal Rahman has inaugurated the forum at the premises of 3D, a learning initiative of Ispahani
B4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
LOST TO TECHNOLOGY
ADB chief urges Asia to tackle reform to cope with Fed tapering
n Reuters
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao urged emerging Asian economies on Wednesday to promote sound macroeconomic policies and structural reform to cope with any impact of the withdrawal of US monetary stimulus. Nakao, former Japanese vice finance minister for international affairs, told Reuters in an interview that despite a recent emerging market rout, Asian economies will not fall back into the kind of financial crisis they experienced in the late 1990s because they have firmer fundamentals. The most important thing is to enhance investment environment in the way that will encourage long-term capital inflow from outside, Nakao told Reuters in an interview. They must continue efforts to implement structural and sound macroeconomic policies. The ADB chief also said the Japanese central banks quantitative easing was having a positive impact on the regions economies as it helped spur direct investment from Japan into the region. Japan logged a weaker-than-expected 0.3% growth in the fourth quarter with disappointing exports, private consumption and capital spending. But Nakao said Japanese domestic demand was still growing and that would help Asian countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines who highly rely on exports to Japan. For those countries, Japans domestic demand-led recovery is positive and the Bank of Japans monetary easing is probably encouraging Japanese direct investment in Asia, he said, while declining to comment on any further monetary easing by the Bank of Japan (BO). The BOJ stuck to its expansionary monetary policy on Tuesday and extended special loan programs to help buoy growth. While the bank is in no mood to act soon, market pressure for further stimulus may increase if there is more evidence that growth is losing momentum. On China, Nakao said the worlds second biggest economy could sustain growth above 7% for the time being, and he believed Chinese authorities would prevent shadow banking problems from causing default or systemic risk. Chinese authorities are leaning not to rely on fiscal measures too much, Nakao said. When he was vice finance minister for international affairs from August 2011 to March 2013, Chinese officials told him that they should not readily resort to fiscal stimulus as it would leave debt burden and inefficiency in the economy, Nakao said. l
A truck removes a phone booth recently in Bethune, northern France. French telecom operator Orange is gradually removing phone booths as the increasing use of mobile phones has led to a decreased in the use of the booths in France AFP
Google asks Internet eyewear fans not to be Glassholes n AFP, San Francisco
Google on Tuesday gave early adopters of its Internet-connected eyewear a bit of advice: dont be Glassholes. It was the final suggestion in a recommended code of conduct posted online for software developers and others taking part in an Explorer program providing early access to Google Glass. The California-based Internet titan appeared intent on avoiding the kinds of caustic run-ins that have seen some Glass wearers tossed from eateries, pubs or other establishments due to concerns over camera capabilities built into devices. Dont be creepy or rude (aka, a Glasshole), Google said in a guide posted online for Explorer program members. Respect others and if they have questions about Glass dont get snappy. Google suggest Glass wearers be polite and offer demonstrations to possibly win over the wary. Glass fans were advised it is proper to follow the same rules set down for smartphone use in businesses. If youre asked to turn your phone off, turn Glass off as well, Google said. Breaking the rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass and will ruin it for other Explorers. Dont Glass-out In the wake of one early adopter claiming Glass gave him headaches, Google told users not to Glass-out by starring into the inset prism screen for long periods at a time. Glass was designed to deliver helpful bursts of information conveniently to let wearers get back to doing things in the real world, according to the technology firm. If you find yourself staring off into the prism for long periods of time youre probably looking pretty weird to the people around you, Google said. So dont read War and Peace on Glass. Things like that are better done on bigger screens. Google also advised against wearing Glass while playing impact sports; or being foolish enough to think the eyewear wont draw attention. The do list included venturing about, using voice commands, asking permission to take pictures, and employing screen locks to prevent use if Glass is lost or stolen. Google last month unveiled a partnership with US vision insurer VSP to make prescription Glass and to reimburse some of the costs under health benefits. That does not include the $1,500 price for Google Glass, which is in a test phase with a small number of explorers ahead of a wider release sometime this year. l
Economic growth has halved to around 5% in India since 2009, the second term of the Congress party. Many economists, as well as Finance Minister P Chidambaram, see red tape as partly to blame. As a result, Indias biggest corporate groups have flocked behind businessfriendly opposition leader Narendra Modi, whose Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to beat Congress in national elections to be held by May. Campaign group Greenpeace views the combination of the oil, gas, environment and forests portfolio as a naked attempt to woo industrialists and political donations - from a cabinet besieged by corruption allegations. They should have known that it would send the wrong signal. Unless of course they want to send the right signal to the corporates? said Nandikesh Sivalingam from the Indian branch of the organisation.
The dispute goes to the heart of Indias development dilemma and governance challenge. As it seeks economic growth to help its millions of poor, it is encouraging infrastructure building, manufacturing jobs and urbanisation. Yet these often entail environmental degradation and the acquisition of land belonging to often illiterate and mostly unskilled rural communities built around farming or foraging. Many see Moily as simply cutting through red tape that has forced economic growth to its lowest rate in a decade and damaged the investment climate. Bhaskar Chatterjee, head of the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, told AFP the changes under Moily were welcome, while business lobbies have hailed the politician from southern Karnataka as a decisive decisionmaker. The secretary general of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, A. Didar Singh, commended the energy and vigour that the 74-year-old has brought to the job. Palit, from the Institute of South Asian Studies, argues that long-term predictability and transparency in government are preferable to a rather uncomfortable degree of oscillation. l
DILBERT