Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
DA 6238 Vol 2, No 31
www.dhakatribune.com
SECOND EDITION
A wrecker removes the smashed bus, hit by a running train, from rail track at TT para level crossing near Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital yesterday
State minister for home and the IGP said abduction had happened in the past and it was happening now and there was no need to be scared
But the scenario has been completely different lately, as abductors have not called the family members of their victims, demanding any ransom or any other settlements; law enforcers have also failed to trace the victims or the abductors. The victims have often returned alive only after the kidnappers released them. According to Ain O Salish Kendra, in recent times, 16 people fell victim to forced disappearance, and seven of them were found dead. Around 53 people have been abducted so far this year while 68 in 2013, 56 in 2012, 59 in 2011 and 46 in 2010.
Parliamentary body for abandoning metre gauge tracks n Kamran Reza Chowdhury
A parliamentary watchdog has asked the government to switch focus to building a broad gauge-based railway network instead of investing money for the existing metre guage tracks. The Awami League government has invested over Tk8,407crore in the last five years for promoting metre gauge tracks. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Railway Ministry at its maiden meeting yesterday said the government could not turn Bangladesh Railway (BR) into a safe and reliable entity and reap the benefits of globalisation if it promoted metre gauge tracks, abandoned by most countries including India.
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NARAYANGANJ ABDUCTIONS
The government has decided to withdraw senior government officials and top-level law enforcers, in connection with recent incidents of abductions. State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal last night confirmed the withdrawal of Rab 11 Commander Lt Col Tarek Sayeed, Narayanganj Police Superintendent Syed Nurul Islam, and the Officers-in-Charge of Fatullah and Shiddhirgangj police stations, Akter Hossain and Abdul Motin. The deputy commissioner of Narayanganj, Monojkanti Boral, was also withdrawn, a source in the Home Ministry said. On the other hand, sources at the Police Headquarters confirmed that two other personnel from Rab 11, Maj Arif and Lt Rana, were also among the officials who were withdrawn. However, when contacted, the DC and SP of Narayanganj told the Dhaka Tribune that they were yet to get any ministry order in this regard.
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* DDT, Aldrin, Chlordane, Heptachlor: 3 to 20 times the limits set by European Union * 20 to 50 times above the safe limit of 2.5 parts per million set by BSTI * Street foods showed widespread contamination in water supply
High microbial populations found in milk Arsenic and chromium above safe limits detected in rice
A H MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHIC
Adulteration of formalin
20 to 50 times above the safety limit of 2.5 parts per million set by the Bangladesh Standard Testing Institute (BSTI).
PAGE 2 COLUMN 3
INSIDE
Business
B1 Three mobile phone operators - Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk made a total net profit of Tk1,883.4 crore in 2013.
Long Form
News
7 Bangladesh is facing an interesting future. Its largest and most important neighbour by far, India, may have a new government in a few months time.
4 The drug administration authority has issued show-cause notices to 15 pharmaceuticals companies, which have previously been identified as manufacturers of substandard drugs, asking them to explain within 15 days why their licences should not be cancelled.
Nation
Op-Ed
6 Farmers are worried about expected mango output as young mango fruits are hugely falling off due to sweltering weather in Chapainawabganj this year.
11 You might be taken by surprise by the title of the piece or take the scribe as a lunatic. Why am I demanding the gallows, and for whom? No, I am not renewing the demand for hanging the war criminals.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Locals barricade the Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Siddhirganj, Narayanganj protesting the abduction of municipality councillor and panel mayor Nazrul Islam and four others and demand their immediate rescue Mahmudul Hossain Opu
Parliamentary body
PAGE 1 COLUMN 6
Top officials
Tk2,800crore for procuring 70 metre gauge locomotives and 864 coaches, wagons and carriages. Official figures show that the length of BRs tracks is 2,877km,of which 1,808km is metre gauge, 660km broad gauge and 409km dual gauge. Welcoming the recommendation, TA Chowdhury, a former BR director general, told the Dhaka Tribune that: One of the major problems for the BR is the mixed nature of its tracks. We should have a uniform network for ensuring seamless journey from one corner of the country to another. We are a signatory to the TAR. Accordingly, we have to turn the tracks into broad gauge to get connected to India, he said. The former DG explained that often the BR could not run broad gauge trains because there were not enough compatible locomotives and engines. If the tracks are made uniform, all locomotives could be used for all types of carriages, he said. The UN Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacificis sponsoringthe TARnetwork that connects Singapore with Turkey through South Asia. l
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such possibility and take action accordingly. Advocate Elina Khan, chief executive of Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation, however, does not think that any third party has been behind the recent incidents. She holds responsible the failure of the law enforcers and the state behind these abductions. She told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that there had been no chain of command among the field level police officers. General people are now used to thinking that the law enforcers cannot help them while criminals think that the law enforcers cannot do anything to them, she said.
Narayanganj abduction
Supporters of Narayanganj ward 2 Councillor Nazrul Islam, who was abducted around 1:45pm on Sunday along with his four aides Tajul, Swapan, Liton and Jahangir from Adalatpara area of the city, yesterday blocked the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway for nearly two hours, demanding immediate rescue of the five men. Transport movement remained suspended on the highway until the demonstrators withdrew the blockade around 12:30pm, reports our Narayanganj correspondent. The demonstrators took to the street and blocked the highway at Mouchak point around 10:45am, said Abdul Matin, officer-in-charge of Siddhirganj police station. Nazrul, also the former general secretary of Narayanganj Chhatra League, and his men were leaving the court premises after securing bail in a case, said Nazruls wife Selina Islam. They were in Nazruls private car when they were abducted. Police found the car at Rajendrapur in Gazipur around 9pm on Sunday but have yet to trace the victims. Meanwhile, lawyers of Narayanganj Ainjibi Samiti boycotted the court, demanding information on the whereabouts of abducted lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar and his driver, who had been kidnapped hours after the abduction of Nazrul and his men. Around the time the five were kidnapped, senior lawyer Chandan Sarkar and his driver Ibrahim were abducted from the court area, family members said. Police recovered Chandans car from the capitals Gulshan around 10pm yesterday. When contacted, Nurul Islam, police super of Narayanganj, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were trying to trace the abductors and the victims.
Gazipur Superintendent of Police Abdul Baten has claimed that they have identified the abductors and they will be arrested soon. Dil Mohan Mondal, 45, and Kedari Mohon Mondol, 41, were rescued on April 28 from Nandan Park area around 9pm. They had been kidnapped three days before, reports our correspondent in the district.
Dil Mohan said six to seven men identifying themselves as police abducted them at gunpoint on April 25. He said their hands had been tied and they had been blindfolded and taken to an unknown place by a microbus after roaming around for an hour. He said they had been confined to a room in a house near Nabinagar. The abductors did not torture them, nor did they demand any ransom. On Monday evening, they took the two brothers in a car and left on a road from where police rescued them. Meanwhile, 10 people, including teachers and students, have been abducted in the past two months in Mymensingh. Our correspondent there reports: The last incident of abduction took place in the early hours of Monday when unknown people kidnapped three people, including two teachers at gunpoint, cuffing them after breaking into their houses in Bhaluka upazilas Pachgaon village. Quoting locals, police said eight to 10 people broke into the house of Shamsuddin Munshi. They held the family members hostages at gunpoint and handcuffed Kamal Hossain Sabuj, 35, son of Shamsuddin and a teacher at a local coaching centre. They also picked up Abu Bakar Siddique Swapon, a cousin of Sabuj, who is also a teacher at the same coaching centre. When family members inquired where they were taking the two, the armed men said they were taking them to the police station. In another incident, introducing as police seven to eight armed men abducted Yusuf Ali Sohag, 18, a second year student of Mymensingh Homeopathic College and son of Kolimullah of Panibhanda village, on the night of April 19. The same group of armed men also picked up Bashir Ahmed, Morshed Ali, and Sohel from an adjacent village the same night. There has been no trace of the two teachers and the four youths yet. On March 5, posing as RAB personnel, some armed people broke into the house of Asadullah of Purbapara village and took away his sons Abu Hanif, Nazmul and Sanwar in a microbus. Officer-in-Charge of Bhaluka Model police station Rafiqul Azad said two general diaries had been lodged in connection with the incident. The three boys were found blindfolded and lying beside a road after three days of the abduction. In reply to a question, IGP Hassan Mahmood Khandker yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: Who says cases are not investigated? Investigations are underway, but yes, some are pending. The law enforcers have been trying hard and we have already brought back a few victims. Asked separately why abduction has been on the rise recently, both the IGP and State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan said abduction had happened in the past and it was happening now. They said there was no need to be scared as the law enforcers had been looking into the cases. l
Being a signatory to the 14,080km Trans-Asian Railway (TAR) network that stretchedfrom Singapore to Turkey, Bangladesh must convert its track into broad gauge to get connected with the global railway link through Indias board gauge network. The TAR connectivity will enter Bangladesh from India and cross through the neighbours northeastern states. The broad gaugetrack can carry twice the number of passengers at one and a half times cheaper cost than metre gauge lines. Almost all countries in the world have abandoned the unsafe and unreliable metre gauge long ago, but our network is still metre gauge-based. We have to keep pace with the world and turn the network into broad gauge, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, chairman of the parliamentary body, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting at the parliament building yesterday. He said: We cannot reap the benefits of TAR unless the tracks are converted into broad gauge. Md Ali Asghar, Mizanur Rahman, Sirajul Islam Mollah, Mohammad No-
man, Yeasin Ali and FatemaJohra the other members of the committee who attended the meeting also gave consents to the recommendations. Railway Minister MazibulHoque, who also agreed, said conversion would need huge investment although he did not specify any figure. The issue of converting the tracks came up when the committee had been discussing the recent derailment of the metre-gauge Drutojan Express on the Jamunabridge. Officialstold the meeting that the train, which unexpectedly accelerated because of strong wind, would not have derailed if the track was broad gauge. One-metre wide metre gauge tracks can be turned into dual gauge, on which both metre gauge and 1.76-metre broad gauge trains can run, by setting up an additional rail beside the existing track. BR has been setting up a new 64km metre gauge track on the Tongi-Bhairab route at a cost of over Tk2,037crorefor smootheningtraffic on the Dhaka-Sylhet and Dhaka-Chittagong routes. According to a paper presented at the meeting, BR has been also implementing seven projects costing over
The state minister said: The government has zero tolerance about abductions and enforced disappearances. The decision has been taken to bring back relief among the Narayanganj dwellers. Earlier on Sunday, Nazrul Islam, councillor of ward 2, his four aides Tajul, Swapan, Liton and Jahangir and his driver, were kidnapped from Adalatpara area of the city. Hours after the incident, lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar and his driver were also kidnapped in a separate incident of abduction from Narayanganj. l
Arsenic and chromium above safety limits were detected in a total of five out of 13 rice samples. Using a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method developed by the food safety lab, 66 samples were analysed for the presence of formaldehyde, while adulteration was detected in samples of coriander, mango and fresh shrimps. The tests indicated that poultry feed in the country had also been contaminated, as samples of chicken and fish contained traces of antibiotics. High microbial populations were found in several samples of pasteurised milk, indicating poor processing procedures by the manufacturers. Samples of cucumber and street foods also showed high microbial populations, suggesting widespread contamination in the water supply. At least four samples of package juice were mislabelled as containing no preservative, although they contained benzoic acid within safety limits. Dr Subimal Sinha Choudhury, director of Institute of Public Health (IPH), told the Dhaka Tribune that the survey report has been submitted to
the Health Ministry. Further tests of different products were being carried out at the food safety lab, Subimal said, adding that the reports would be made public soon. The latest survey report was handed over to Health Minister Mohammed Nasim and other senior officials of the health directorate on April 15. Prof Dr Shah Monir Hossain, former director general of the health services and senior national adviser of the FAO, said the findings were shocking information for the whole nation. He added that instead of focusing only on the end products, the issue should be addressed at the root level. Pointing out that there were four steps in the production process farmer, transport, wholesale, and retail trader, Dr Monir said better monitoring and supervision were mandatory for stopping food adulteration. Adulterated food products are reportedly the cause behind thousands of people suffering from fatal diseases like cancer, kidney failure and heart problems. Health specialists told the Dhaka Tribune that the Food Ministry had enacted a Food Safety Act, but was yet to prepare the necessary rules. As the
issue of food safety was also linked to 14 other ministries, a coordinated agency should take responsibility of ensuring safety in food products, they added. HC issues order on food adulteration The High Court yesterday ordered the government to inform it within two weeks on what steps they had taken to halt the poisoning of food and also against its perpetrators. The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order following a writ petition lodged by Supreme Court lawyer Kazi Mynul Hasan. The court also issued a rule seeking explanation from the government as to why they should not be directed to ensure production and sale of safe food and to take proper legal action against the people who are responsible for adulteration of food and its selling, Deputy Attorney General Al-Amin Sarker told the Dhaka Tribune. The bench fixed May 18 for hearing the petition, our court correspondent reported. The petition told the court about the recent study which found that 40% food in the capitals market contained high levels of pesticide. l
a capacity of 250MW was built by the Chinese firm CMC. In October last year, the construction of the Rampal power plant began amid massive resistance from the conservationists who fear that the proposed plant situated beside Pashur River a sweet-water dolphin sanctuary, and the Sundarbans a Unesco World Heritage Site would be a threat to the biodiversity of the mangrove forest. After the signing of the MoU, the energy adviser yesterday said though the countrys power generation capacity was 10,000MW, only 7,000MW could be generated. Power plants having the capacity of around 2,000MW were under maintenance while another 1,000MW could not be produced due to gas crisis. Admitting the persistent loadshedding, Tawfiq urged all to have patience. He also reminded that there had been progress achieved in the power sector. The PDB chairman said: We have taken initiative to acquire 5,000 acre land in Moheshkhali where around 9,000MW capacity power plants will be installed. It will be the countrys future power hub for coal power plants. He said now the government would begin the feasibility study, finalise the joint venture agreement, prepare project documents and carry out other project development activities in full swing. We have to mobilise 30% of the funds as equity while the rest will come as soft loan from China, Ruhulullah added. l
enhance the overall safety compliance in the industry. Some of these steps are: raising the wage structure; amending the Labour Law; training 13,000 mid-level RMG employees with fire safety; appointing 67 inspector; and so on. The entrepreneurs have also stepped out. According to the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), many factories now have fire doors and exits. The number of trade unions has also risen significantly. It is unfortunate that although we are working hard to make the sector safe and fully compliant, the buyers are cancelling orders from the factories, especially those that share buildings, BGMEA President Atiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune. In fact, some apparel makers have told the Dhaka Tribune that they are having to chase the buyers for getting orders. In my 17 years in the RMG sector, I never did marketing. But, after the Rana Plaza collapse, as the buyers are not placing orders, I am doing it, said Abdul Kashem, deputy managing director of AKH Group.
Orders used to pour into Bangladesh because we ensured high quality at reasonable prices, Kashem reminded. The termination of orders has badly hurt the factories that operate on sub-contracts. According to unofficial data, out of the 3,600 active RMG units in the country, at least 1,200 or around one-third operate on sub-contracts. Around 10 lakh workers are employed in these factories. Seeking anonymity, the owner of one such factory located in Gazipur said: It is impossible for owners like me to implement the new wage structure. Bills have remained the same but the wages have increased by 77%. I am trying hard to ensure safety of the workers, but it is very tough for me because the costs are very high. After the Rana Plaza and Tazreen disasters, Apex Holdings installed 700 sprinklers at a cost of TK6.5 crore in its Gazipur warehouse in line with buyers recommendation. The company also removed all water tanks from the rooftop and spent Tk1.5 crore to build an underground reservoir that can store up to 10 lakh litres of water to be used only for fire incidents. Fire doors
and special lights that can see through smokes, were also installed. We have sufficient work order now and the buyers have expressed satisfaction with the work that we have done in terms of improving safety, said MD Abul Kalam, a deputy general manager of Apex Holdings. Another ex-BGMEA chief AnwarUl-Alam Chowdhury, also the MD of Evince Group, said: If the factory is compliant orders will come. My orders have increased because we are working on compliance. Recently, Envoy Group, owned by former BGMEA president Abdus Salam Murshedy, imported and installed 130 fire doors in its factories. Despite the initiative, he said he had lost 10% orders. Bangladeshi exporters have lost competitiveness as production cost has increased. Now they are having to spend more for compliance issues and the new wage structure, he said. He however said if the industry got compliant, orders would start coming back. The Rana Plaza collapse tarnished our global image. We need to rebuild it by ensuring workers safety. Rokeya Begum, a sewing machine
operator at the factory of the IDS Group in the capital, told the Dhaka Tribune that: As a worker, I feel safer than before. Fire exits now remain open during working hours. Earlier, the doors used to be locked. Sumon, who works at the factory of Brothers Fashion in the capitals Karwan Bazaar, said: We are enjoying a new wage structure, but at what cost. We lost so many brothers and sisters in the worst ever factory disaster. Srinivas B Reddy, country director of the International Labour Organisation, recently said: Freedom of association in the RMG sector in Bangladesh is getting a shape. During the last 15 months, a total of 134 trade unions got registered with the government. This is very significant in terms of freedom of association in collective bargaining. BGMEA President Atiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that: The RMG sector is ready to set a new paradigm in safety and security because many initiatives have been taken. If the buyers and the stakeholders continue their efforts, the RMG sector would become safe and matured. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Malaysia to build 22,000 apartments, German delegates doubt about five-year stability flyover in Dhaka
n Mohosinul Karim
The government of Malaysia is expected to construct 22,000 apartments in Uttara and Kamrangir Char areas in Dhaka city and a 13km long flyover between Shantinagar and Jheelmil project at Mawa in Keraniganj. Bangladesh and Malaysia yesterday signed three memorandums of understanding to implement three projects. Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain and Malaysian governments Special Envoy Utama S Samy Vellu signed the deals on behalf of their respective sides. The Malaysian government will put forward its financial proposals to the Bangladesh government as soon as possible to sign a final agreement for starting the construction works, the minister told reporters at the signing ceremony held at the ministrys conference room. He said, We hope the Malaysian government will submit its proposals soon so that we can sign the final deal within next two months to start the construction work. They will complete building 22,000 apartments within 30 months since the award of work order. Initially, the Malaysian government will construct 12,000 out of 18,000 apartments under Uttara apartment project. The government had cancelled work order awarded to Ena Properties Ltd, a local construction firm owned by ruling Awami League MP Enamul Haque, as it failed to build the apartments within a stipulated time. And, the Housing and Public Works Ministry will construct the rest of apartments. At the same time, the Malaysian authority will finalise proposals for building 10,000 new apartments in Kamrangir Char area after eviction of illegal occupants from the government land. Even though illegal occupants would be evicted from the government land, they would be rehabilitated under the new apartment project, Mosharraf said. However, Bangladeshi government will continue talks with the Malaysian authorities to construct a 13km flyover between Shantinagar and Jheelmil project which had already been finalised. We will look at their proposal. If their proposal is acceptable, we will go ahead with it. Otherwise, we will look for another company or country to construct the flyover, he added. Samy Vellu informed that Iqbal Mohammed, chief of International Construction Company, will look after the construction works on behalf of the Malaysian government as its local agent. He said, If we go to construct the apartments with traditional technologies, it will take around six years to complete the work. But we are not going to do it. We will provide modern technologies and designs in the project as we can complete the works within 30 months since the work order. l
of government
n Mohammad Al-MasumMolla
The Visiting German parliamentary delegation yesterday appreciated the prevailing political stability in the country but at the same time expressed concern whether it could last for five years. I must express the Bundestags concern that the current parliament has been elected by a small part of the electorate only with tens of millions of voters having been deprived of the possibility to cast their ballots. While we appreciate the stability this country has again found today we have some doubts whether it can be maintained for a full period of five years unless substantial dialogue between the major political forces starts, rather sooner than the later. We would hope to soon receive a positive signal from Bangladesh in this respect, Dagmar G Wohrl, head of the delegation, told journalists at a press conference. Expressing optimism to continue the support to Bangladesh the delegation chief said: German remains committed to continue its support to Bangladesh on its way to leave behind poverty and to consolidate its democracy. In reply to a query whether Germany wants fresh election in Bangladesh she said the German delegation expressed its concern over political system in Bangladesh while meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but it is up to Bangladesh whether it would hold new election or not. Dialogue should be resumed soon... we regretted that a mechanism of participatory election was not found. The matter of new election is yours (Bangladesh), Dagmar said. In reply to another query whether the relationship between Bangladesh and Germany would be affected after the January 5 election she said Germany would continue to work with Bangladesh as the two countries have had a long-standing tie. German parliament member Stefan Rebmann said Bangladesh will be assessed critically and will be under fo-
cus in future about workers safety and job security. German has strong trade unions and Bangladesh also should have powerful trade unions for the sake of progress and sustainable development, he said adding that strong trade union helps country to move towards progress and development. As he was asked whether more German investment would come to Bangladesh in future he said it depends on safety and job security of the workers and frame work.
Two men arrested with arms, ammo remanded n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
A Dhaka court yesterday granted 10day police remand against two persons who were arrested from an intercity train at the Airport railway station in the capital with explosive substances. Dhakas Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Nazmul Haque Shyamol granted the remand in two cases for the accused Nurul Islam and Md Shamim alias Abdullah after hearing a plea. The defence counsels filed a bail prayer with remand rejection prayer, while Additional Public Prosecutor Anowarul Kabir Babul opposed their bail and sought remand. Md Sirajul Islam, a Railway police sub-inspector, produced them with 20day police remand in the cases. On 28 April, an automated AK 22 rifle, two magazines and eight bullets were recovered from the duo when they got down from Subarna Express. The lawmen also found three knives, 10 small packets of power gel, 10 detonators and some electric wire in their possession. l
But it is only the beginning of a long road, which Germany is ready to go with Bangladesh
Dagmar said as Germany is Bangladeshs second biggest market worldwide It creates a joint obligation for buyers, traders and producers for your government and for ours, for your trade unions and civil society and ours to make sure that production and working condition are up to international standards About the working atmosphere in the RMG sector, especially after the Rana Plaza collapse, she said with the help of Accord and ILO, but also with the support of Alliance, some progress has been made, no doubt, all stakeholders deserve praise for this. But it is only the beginning of a long road, which Germany is ready to go with Bangladesh. Praising Bangladesh for achieving the millennium development goals, Dagmar said Bangladesh is considered to be a role model in areas such as poverty reduction, increasing enrolment at primary schools and lowering infant and maternal rate. In the press briefing, German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Albrecht Conze, Deputy Head of Delegation Stefan Rebmann, Jrgen Klimke, Frank Heinrich, Gabi Weber,NiemaMovassat and UweKekeritz were present. l
Police display arms and explosive, including an AK 22 automatic rifle, recovered from Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Visitors bypass the security barrier around the lions cage at Dhaka Mirpur Zoo yesterday to take a closer look, paying no heed to the risk of such insensible behaviour
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
n Mohosinul Karim
The government has asked authorities concerned to form beach management committees and improve safety measures to prevent loss of lives while swimming in the sea. Schools and other educational institutes were also asked to inform the ministries of education, tourism and information about visits by their students to sea beaches. The Cabinet Division gave the directives yesterday through an official circular, which was sent to the divisional and deputy commissioners of Coxs Bazar, Chittagong and Patuakhali, and to police superintendents and other high officials across the country. l
Land minister discloses threats from land grabbers n Emran Hossain Shaikh
Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sharif yesterday said he had already received threats from land grabbers over the governments new initiative for land record management. The land minister receives threats from land grabbers saying do not to meddle with a hornet hive, and this is the reality, the minister said while addressing a roundtable, titled Land Digitalisation: Prospect for Land Equality in Bangladesh, at The Daily Star conference hall in the capital yesterday. Some say that there are only 10-12 land grabbers, but let me tell you... the numbers are way more than that. I want cooperation from all so that I can successfully execute my plans, he added. During the last tenure of the Awami League-led government, the then public works minister Abdul Mannan Khan took a strong stand against land grabbers and threatened them in public. However, after the end of his tenure, the Anti Corruption Commission launched a probe against the former minister for unusual rise in wealth. l
Bangladesh Nari Progoti Sangha Executive Director Rokeya Kabir speaks at a seminar on dicrimination against wemen, at National Press Club yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
He further added that DNCC was ready to demolish all existing beautification instalments from the Airport road, if they receive a better and acceptable alternative from any organisation or person. After receiving much criticism before the ICC T20 World Cup, we have reduced the number of concrete structures and planted trees on the median, he said. Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB) former president Mubasshar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: We have just suggested the city corporation to increase plantations on the medians, nothing else. Dhaka has become a concrete jungle, and trees are disappearing fast. Thus, the citys temperature has been rising continuously and the highest temperatures are witnessed in posh areas of the capital, he said. Hossain also added that architects, urban planners have no grievance against the city corporation and any other organisation or person. They have just criticised the beautification project since it focused on concrete structures. You can see the median of Manik Miah Avenue, it is full of greens. Does it look bad? There can be no complaints against trees, he said. Similarly, Centre for Urban Studies Chairman Professor Nazrul Islam echoed the same sentiment and said the two city corporations should indi-
vidually form advisory committees including architects, urban planners and art experts. Meanwhile, the development works of roads, footpaths and drains, which were part of the beautification project for the ICC World T20, have started at different areas of the DNCC area. Repair and renovation works on footpaths along the Airport road, Rokea Avenue and Kalshi road has been going on although the development works were supposed to be completed before the ICC World T20 to give the capital a facelift for international visitors. Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) began the beautification work in early February, following approval from the government on January 19. The Local Government Department approved the Tk115 crore project, with Tk92 crore from the government exchequer and the remaining from DNCC funds. Under the project, different roads of the capital was identified to be widened, installed with streetlights, traffic signs and road markers and beautified. Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of DNCC, told the Dhaka Tribune that: We were given only four-five weeks to complete the tasks. Due to time constrains, we could not complete some of the [beautification] works on schedule. He, however, expressed hopes that the works would be completed by March 8. l
A plenty of trees were supposed to be planted along the median from Chairmanbari to Kakoli but the work has been stopped due to indecision of the authority concerned ABU HAYAT MAHMUD
AL LEADER ASSAULT AT CU
Sabbir and Ariful Islam had been implementing the agenda of JamaatShibir, the statement added
Sumon Mamun, join secretary of Chhatra League CU unit, read out a written statement that also declared CU Chhatra League President Mamunul Haque persona-non-grata on the campus for one year. The statement alleged that the central committee had only expelled the workers, but did not take any action against the masterminds of the attack.
Sabbir Ahmed, vice-president, and Ariful Islam, organising secretary of CU BCL unit, were alleged to be the masterminds of the attack. Sabbir and Ariful Islam had been implementing the agenda of Jamaat-Shibir, the statement added. Terming them intruders, the statement demanded immediate exemplary punishment. The other demands were to take legal action against the attackers, suspending the academic certificates, maintaining a congenial education atmosphere, ban politics of Jamaat-Shibir on the campus and removing the Jamaat-Shibir agents from the administration. Nasir Haider Babul was physically assaulted by a few Chhatra League activists on the campus on April 5, and a case was filed with Hathazari police station in this connection. l
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30
DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:26PM SUN RISES 5:25AM FORECAST FOR TODAY
Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar 38 34 40 37 39 37 37 34 27 26 27 25 26 27 22 25 Officials of Consumers Rights Protection Directorate recently raided a wholesale banana market at Kutubpur area under Sakhipur upazila in Tangail and destroyed huge amount of chemical-mixed fruits and seized chemical mixing machineries BANGLAR CHOKH
40.2C Rajshahi
Source: Accuweather/UNB
20.3C Srimangal
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 4:05am 5:25am 11:56am 4:22pm 6:27pm 7:47pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
6
SWELTERING WEATHER
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
A huge quantity of young mangoes fall off because of scorching heat in Chapainawabganj this year vance make extra use of insecticides seeking to rake in profits. The farmers should use insecticides on experts advice and also look out so that mango traders, who buy the fruits in advance, cannot use extra insecticides, agriculture officers suggest. A senior officer at Mango Research Centre at Chapainawabganj, Dr Sharf Uddin says, Extra use of insecticides is damaging mango orchards as well as public health. So, it should be used on experts advice. Besides, uses of insecticides as per rules help grow a good output of mango. Extra use of insecticides also kills useful insects hampering mango output.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
It is enough to spray insecticides on the mango trees three times from mangoes budding to ripening period, he says. Deputy Director at the Department of Agriculture Extension Abu Rashed says, Mango output may not be up to the mark this season because young mango fruits are heavily falling off. l
NEWS IN BREAF
Five cocktails recovered
Police on Monday recovered five cocktails from the Water Development Board area in town. Jhenaidah police station Sub-Inspector Uzzal Maitra said, on a tip-off, the police raided the area at 9.30pm and recovered the cocktails from near the tennis club in the area. The law enforcers could not nab anyone in this connection. A case was filed with Jhenaidah police. Our Correspondent
Police super conducts a cleanliness drive at Pirojpur Government Primary School yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
Dated: 27.04.2014
Cancellation Notice
The Tenders pertaining to the works Construction of 10 bed Mother & Child Welfare Centres [Baherchar & Kunjerhat {Package No-WP-621/SDP(GOB)HED & WP-622/SDP (GOB)-HED}]; [Medhakandar {Package No- WP628/SDP(GOB)-HED}] & [Karapur, Mokimabad & Dangarhat {Package No-WP-460/SDP(GOB)-HED, WP-585/SDP(GOB)-HED & WP-591/SDP (GOB)-HED}]; invited vide this ofce Memo Nos. HED/HPNSDP/GOB/10 Bed/Tender-127/2014/435, Dated 06.02.2014; HED/HPNSDP/GOB/10 Bed/ Tender-128/2014/437, Dated 06.02.2014 & HED/HPNSDP/GOB/10 Bed/ MCWC/Tender-963/2014/449, Dated 06.01.2014 respectively are hereby cancelled. Md. Nazrul Islam Executive Engineer Health Engineering Department
DG-83/14 (53)
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Long Form
angladesh is facing an interesting future. Its largest and most important neighbour by far, India, may have a new government in a few months time. If there is a new government then it will probably be headed by Narenda Modi of the BJP. As readers will know the BJP, the Bharatiya Janata Party, is a Hindu nationalist party, and Modi himself is a proud member of the RSS, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a Hindu chauvinist cultural organisation. These organisations have for many years been feeding on anti-Muslim sentiments, and although Modi nowadays professes policies that are more focused on development and economic issues than cultural nationalist ones, he still cannot make himself say sorry for the events that killed thousands of Muslims under his watch. For a politician of such ambition, surely a simple apology would not matter much? But his inability or unwillingness to do so suggests that his antipathy against Muslims is not just a political gimmick but something that runs deep in his personality.
But a strong government will not wish to prolong regional conflicts of interest, however Hindunationalist. Business will remain the primary aim
What can a much smaller neighbour, the Muslim majority Bangladesh hope for with such a man at the helm just across the border? The first thing to note is that the position of prime minister in India is a relatively less powerful position than that of the prime minister of Bangladesh. Formal institutions are stronger and more independent in India than in Bangladesh, for instance the courts, the election commission, and various other government institutions. A second thing to note is that India being a federal republic has some powers divested to the states, meaning out
of reach of the prime minister. This is particularly so in cases where the state is run by a party different from that of the central government. A third thing to note is that although important powers do rest with the central government, the political reality of contemporary India is that of coalition politics. No central government can hope to remain independent and efficient without the considerable goodwill of regional parties. A fourth point to note, and perhaps the most important one, is that Indias general objectives will not change with a new government. Whichever party heads the government, the general aim will be the same. The overwhelming political consensus in India today is that of economic growth. The Congress too wants economic growth, even if they emphasise on distribution more than growth in their election campaign. Indians in general are all in favour of economic growth. They are in favour of foreign investments, of improved export, of greater opportunities for business, and of more and better jobs for the millions of hopefuls all over the country. To meet such aspirations India will need friendly relations with world powers, the ability to match strength with China, the absence of conflicts along its borders in order to look good in the UN, massive import of energy fuels, and new markets. India today has a relatively positive image in the world, based on its ability to build economic growth while ensuring (relatively) social distribution and maintaining democracy. Modi is business-friendly, and his businessmen friends will tell him how important this soft power is for new opportunities overseas. Modi also realises the need for friendly relations with countries in the Middle East. No economic development is possible without oil and gas. Modi also realises the need to aviod, if possible, conflicts that will ruffle American or European feathers. International conflicts will ruffle feathers. The US is Indias largest trading partner, but even larger is the European countries combined in the EU. With friends like that, you dont need enemies. Your friends will keep you on the straight and narrow. Indias priorities are set by deep aspirations in the country and will not change much even if the Hindu nationalist topples the secular dynasty from the throne. A strong prime minister will do his utmost to steer the country towards a direction that seeks to fulfill those aspirations.
For Bangladesh it would mean politics as usual. Perhaps a little less cordial than the present bonhomie between Dhaka and New Delhi, but still a professional relationship. With Modi at the helm, New Delhi will wish a good, efficient, working relationship with Dhaka. Issues of common concern are the corridor to Indias north-east, trade, and the many issues relating to the border including water sharing. But a strong government will not wish to prolong such conflicts, however Hindu nationalist it may be. Business will remain the primary aim.
If Mamata is to sell herself to Modi, it will be in exchange for a heavy influence on these two issues. A weak Modi may outsource his entire Bangladesh policy to Mamata
The question is how a weak prime minister might do. It may well be that Modi will not win as many seats as his spin doctors suggest. Opinion polls are generally unreliable, and tend to overemphasise the urban and the middle class, where Modis support is higher. Besides, the Indian voter, apart from being prone to change of opinion at the last minute, is reticent with information about his or her preferences. Moreover, the American style projection of Modi as the main man on whom all light shines is an untested strategy in the Indian context. Equally important is the fact that in some of the large states, most notably in Uttar Pradesh, the four big parties in the fray (SP, BSP, BJP and Congress) all hover around the 20%25% mark. This makes it virtually impossible to guess the outcome. Parallel situations prevail in other states. We have in other words only a dim idea about the outcome of the election. Will Modi secure 220 seats for the BJP? Or perhaps 230? Or only 190? A weak Modi will be vulnerable. He has a number of close allied parties in the existing alliance, but a weak result for these or for the NDA itself will make it necessary for Modi to find new friends. This is not an unlikely outcome. The problem is that the available partners will sell themselves dearly. A possible candidate in this respect is Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamul Congress from West Bengal. She may well secure 20 seats in her home state, a number that will make her extremely interesting to a weak Modi. Mamata Banerjee has improved her chief ministerial touch over the two and a half years of her rule. But she has some of the maverick agitator of the past left in her. This feature resurfaces every now and then, and we last saw it during the election when she thought herself as above law and the election commission.
As every reading Bangladeshi knows, there are two major outstanding issues of contention between India and Bangladesh. One is the sharing of the Teesta water and the other is the land boundary agreement regarding the northern enclaves. In both these the maverick Mamata Banerjee has claimed a political stake for her state. If she is to sell herself to Modi, it will be in exchange for a heavy influence on these two issues. If she is strong enough she may gain veto power over both issues. A weak Modi may in fact outsource his entire Bangladesh policy to Mamata Banerjee. Mamata Banerjee is not anti-Bangladesh, and she is not anti-Muslim. But she is a populist and a tactician. She is a populist in the sense that she appeals unashamedly to Bengali sentiments, including the deep sense of deprivation and despair that prevails in a state once rich and powerful, but now economically in the backwaters while others surge forward. So she promises to protect their interests the interests of her state. These interests include, naturally one might say, their water and every inch of the motherland. These are issues that sit well with a large section of the electorate and deflect from her poor economic results. Mamata Banerjee is also a tactician, an ambitious politician who will seek every opportunity to strengthen her hold on power and ensure its prolongation. She is not overly concerned about Indias relationship with Bangladesh or with the US, and she has never shown any interest in international issues. Her primary interest is her own position within India. If she can exploit nationalist (or regionalist) sentiments to enhance her position, there is little reason to believe that she will not do so, even if at the cost of the countrys international reputation.
She may be the chief minister of West Bengal and have a strong position there, but it is clear that she has national ambitions as well. To achieve such an ambition she may need emotional issues that will project her image. Bangladesh will want a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution of outstanding issues with its most important neighbour. This can be done if the neighbour feels confident and strong; strong enough to be a little generous. A reputation as the neighbourhood bully is not in Indias interest now. Its ambition points to a much larger scene, and so India too will want a peaceful and mutually agreeable resolution of outstanding issues. But a huge but weak neighbour is a liability. With its Bangladesh policy outsourced to Kolkata, India seen from Dhaka will be erratic, uncooperative, unpredictable, and prone to making risky allegations. Bangladesh can best hope for no Modi. But as a second choice, it can hope for a strong Modi. l Arild Engelsen Ruud is Professor of South Asia Studies, Department of Culture Studies and Oriental languages, University of Oslo, Norway
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
The collapse of the talks was a direct result of Israels relentless settlement construction on land
But Israel and the Palestinians were under no illusions about the fate of the latest US-led peace effort, with analysts saying it was a case of back to square one. Were back to where we started, said Jonathan Spyer, senior researcher at the Global Research in International Affairs Centre near Tel Aviv. The Palestinians, he said, were likely to continue with their strategy of political warfare by seeking global recognition for their promised state, in a bid to isolate Israel in international bodies and pressure it into making concessions. Until a month ago, the Palestinians had suspended moves on the international front to give the talks a chance but resumed the process after Israel reneged on a commitment to release two dozen veteran prisoners. Israel, Spyer said, was unlikely to
Other Israeli analysts said the collapse of the talks was a direct result of Israels relentless settlement construction on land which was the subject of negotiations. Figures published on Tuesday by settlement watchdog Peace Now showed that in parallel with the negotiations, the Israeli government approved plans for nearly 14,000 new settler homes, describing it as an unprecedented number. Netanyahu broke construction records during the nine-month peace talks, Peace Now head Yariv Oppenheimer told AFP. The ongoing settlement building infuriated the Palestinians but Netanyahu insisted he had never agreed to any restraints on construction throughout the talks. Abu Mazen made a hefty contribution to the failure (of the talks), there is no doubt of that, wrote Nahum Barnea in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot newspaper. But only politicians with amnesia can ignore the huge contribution of the settler lobby to the failure. If Israel continued its relentless drive to build beyond the 1967 Green Line, it would end up turning into an apartheid state, he said, echoing a similar warning by Kerry. The settlers political lobby ... will fashion Israel in two stages. In the first stage, Israel will become an apartheid state, shunned by businesses in the world, it will come under siege politically, legally and culturally, Barnea wrote. In the second stage, the world will force (Israel) to become a bi-national state. l
In this March 14, 2011 file photo, a general view of a construction site in the West Bank Jewish settlement of Modiin Illit. An Israeli watchdog group said yesterday that Israel increased settlement work four-fold during the latest round of peace talks, pushing forward with construction of nearly 14,000 new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem AP
talks. These included tenders, or bids for construction, of 4,868 homes, nearly half in the West Bank alone. The group said the number of tenders, including earlier bids that were reissued, was more than quadruple the average level of construction of the previous two Israeli governments. And citing official government figures, the number of housing starts in the second half of 2013, some 828 new units, was nearly double the year-earlier level. Peace Now said the settlement activity was destructive for the American efforts and undermined trust. It also created facts on the ground that proved more than anything else that the Netanyahu government did not mean to go for a two-state solution and instead tried to strengthen Israeli control over occupied territory. l
Iran warns EU imposes more sanctions on At least 4% of US death against Egypt row convicts are innocent, death sentences Russia over Ukraine crisis n researchers say n
Reuters, Brussels AFP, Tehran
Agencies
At least four percent of death sentences in the US send an innocent person to death row, according to new research published Monday in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The Christian Science Monitor reported. Some of those people are exonerated and freed but not all of them, the researchers report. The study follows a broader report earlier this year that found that a record number of people were exonerated for crimes in 2013, suggesting that innocent people go to prison far more often than had been thought. The study authors found that over a 31-year period, 1.6 percent of inmates sentenced to death were exonerated and freed. Of the remaining innocent inmates, some see their sentences reduced to life in prison, while others are executed, the authors say. But for those wrongly convicted
inmates who are removed from death row and not exonerated, their new life sentence among the general prison population is a mixed blessing: the odds of being executed are now nil, but their chances of being freed also plummet, since, once off death row, outside efforts to prove their innocence tend to slow, or even cease, according to the researchers. The net result is that the great majority of innocent defendants who are convicted of capital murder in the United States are neither executed nor exonerated, the researchers write. They are sentenced, or resentenced toprison for life, and then forgotten. The new research is based on US death row records kept between 1973 and 2004, during which period 7,482 defendants were sentenced to death. As of Dec. 31, 2004, 1.6 percent of them, or 117 people, had been exonerated, some 12 percent had been executed, and about 46 percent were still on death row. l
Iran yesterday warned that the 683 death sentences handed down by an Egyptian court to suspected Islamists could add to a deteriorating situation in the country. The verdicts passed on Monday in Cairo amid a crackdown on supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi were condemned by the United States and the United Nations. In remarks that expressed concern rather than all-out criticism, Irans foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said the judgements went against Egypts historic principle of tolerance. Issuing such verdicts could have many social and political consequences and encourage Egypts enemies to exploit the current situation, Afkham said at a news conference. The White House said that the courts decision defied even the most basic standards of international justice, calling for it to be reversed. l
The European Union announced asset freezes and travel bans on 15 Russians and Ukrainians over Moscows actions in Ukraine, but the measures were seen as less aggressive than sanctions imposed this week by the United States. In Ukraines eastern city of Luhansk,
hundreds of pro-Russian separatists stormed the regional government headquarters, unopposed by police, and the Ukrainian government said it had information that they also planned to seize the local television center. The EU list published yesterday included senior Russian politicians but did not extend to companies, several
of which were singled out by Washington when it extended its sanctions list on Monday. Moscow immediately denounced the new EU measures, saying the Europeans were simply doing Washingtons bidding and should be ashamed of themselves. A senior Russian politician said Moscow was working on measures to counter the new sanctions. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
S M T W 1 April 2 8 15 22 29 6 9 16 23 T 3 10 17 24 F 4 11 18 25 2 9 6 13 20 27 7 14 21 28 5 12
S 5 12 19 26 3 10
While Priyanka, a mother of two children, has replaced her brother Rahul in the headlines with her attacks on Modi, analysts say her appearance has come too late to rescue the party from a humiliating rout. Furthermore, the financial dealings of her husband Robert Vadra have given the BJP a new opportunity to hammer away at its anti-corruption message after the Congress-led coalitions two scandal-plagued terms in office. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal published last week showed that Vadra, an enthusiastic body-builder, had amassed a vast property empire since getting his start in real estate with a few thousand dollars of investment. Vadra, an unpopular public figure who drew ridicule on social media after appearing with Priyanka to vote in Delhi wearing pink trousers and a plunging V-necked T-shirt, has denied allegations of any wrongdoing and has never faced any legal charges. Rahul and his sister are extremely close after a childhood scarred by the political assassinations of their grandmother, and their father, former premier Rajiv Gandhi. l
1 30 May 7 8
Punjab
4 11
Gujarat
Voting day markers are placed approximately at the center of each constituency
Source: India Election Commission
Priyanka Gandhi to Modi: PMaspirants should not indulge in childish behaviour n Agencies
Priyanka Gandhi yesterday slammed BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi calling his behaviour childish. Your aim is to become the Prime Minister of the country, so why do you indulge in childish attacks? Priyanka said in Amethi referring to Modis shahjada and other barbs at Rahul Gandhi. You should understand the dignity of the position you are aiming for, Priyanka said without taking Modis name. Campaigning for Rahul, Priynaka invoked former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to seek votes for her brother. She also attacked BJP candidate Smriti Irani and said, Some leaders sit in closed rooms with reporters and pass value judgment on development in Amethi. These leaders are not interested in ensuring development, she said calling Smriti an armchair politician. Smriti Irani reacted strongly to Priyankas attack and said, Whatever I am, I have never lived off my familys name. The state of development in Amethi shocks me, she said speaking to Times Now. l
An Indian fruit seller poses alongside watermelons carved with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slogan Ab ki Baar Modi Sarkar - this time, its Modi government - in Jodhpur on April 29 AFP
I AM SORRY
South Korean President Park Geun-Hye pays her respects in front of a joint memorial altar for victims of the sunken South Korean ferry Sewol in Ansan on April 29, 2014. Park apologised yesterday for her governments failure to prevent a ferry disaster that left some 300 people dead or missing AFP
10
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
April 28 At the gold medal ceremony of the Bangladesh Bingan Academy, at Osmani Smriti Milanayatan earlier this month, Sheikh Hasina urged the new generation to make studying the sciences a priority. From history, we know that science can do a great deal to help lift up a nation and increase its development. Not very long ago, around 40% of secondary level students studied the sciences, and now, it is not even 20%. We know that around 98% of educational institutions are private. Also, it is an open secret that many teachers have been recruited based on who gives the largest bribes to the person concerned who belongs to the party in power. This is surely an important reason why quality teachers are not being hired. We urge the government to recruit talented and dedicated people as teachers by establishing PSC for teacher recruitment and their promotion. Md Tofazzel Hossain
Palestinian doctors treat wounded child following air strike in Beit Lahia
Amicable and cooperative relations are crucial to the well-being of both countries
April 24 Where is the Dislike button?! Tragic. May peace prevail on earth! Mariam Ispahani
Be Heard
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
erious allegations of irregularities and lack of transparency have been made about the tender process for the governments VAT automation project. An official complaint was filed with the National Board of Revenue and details sent to the Anti-Corruption Commission on Sunday, by a leading multinational software provider, calling for an official investigation into the NBRs procurement process. The complainant claims to have had its bid, which was $1.1m lower than the winning bid, ruled out by the tender evaluation committee, for unexplained reasons. As a company that is larger and has substantially more experience in Bangladesh than the winning company, it claims there is no obvious technical or logistical reason for its disqualification. The lack of explanation and transparency in this matter is very serious as the inference is drawn that its bid was ruled out in order to favour its competitor. At the very least the tender process appears to have fallen below expected standards because of the lack of transparency about the reason for one bid being disqualified. It is important for the government to ensure a complete and open investigation into the allegations being made. This is important to taxpayers for two reasons. Firstly, to ensure that funds are spent efficiently and transparently. Secondly, and just as important, to protect the countrys reputation with international companies and funders. The credibility of public procurement processes requires that they meet the highest standards of fairness and transparency and that any alleged discrepancies are looked into fully.
The government must ensure that funds are spent efficiently and transparently
PEANUTS
CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Form (5) 5 Public walk (4) 8 Allow (6) 9 Encounters (5) 10 Alone (4) 11 Numeral (5) 12 Tree (3) 15 Repose (4) 18 Henhouse (5) 21 Female pig (3) 22 Entrance (4) 24 Stagger (4) 25 Fertile spot (5) 28 Good name (6) 29 Containers (4) 30 Swarms (5) DOWN 1 Boil gently (6) 2 Monkey (3) 3 Domestic animals (4) 4 Celtic language (4) 5 Niggard (5) 6 Makes up for (6) 7 Zodiac sign (3) 13 Behold! (2) 14 Not antiquated (6) 16 Accordingly (2) 17 Intertwines (6) 19 Parts of shoes (5) 20 In the direction of (2) 23 Disorderly flight (4) 24 Plunder (3) 26 Consumed (3) 27 Observe (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.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
Pakistans military establishment has been playing the politics of expulsion since General Sikandar Mirza dragged the army into state affairs to establish his rule. Then they did not like Bengalis for demanding their democratic rights. So they tried to bend them while ending up losing half of their dominion and eternal shame for the rights abuses.
A massive propaganda campaign is in full swing across Pakistan to label Mir and his TV channel as traitors
Then they played the religion card and started dividing the rest of Pakistan on a communal basis, ending up excluding Ahmedis from their list and yet again, through inhuman treatment, creating probably the most powerful Pakistani community across the globe. Then came the turn of Baluchis, Sindhis, Pashtoons, Shias, and sects within Sunnis. So thousands of them have been killed so far while no end to this politics of division comes to sight. Yet the country has been virtually carved up. And yet, a large number of Pakistanis are intoxicated by the establishments propaganda instead of standing up for the heroes who fight for their rights. They are unable to understand that by doing so they are signing a charter of slavery for their generations to come. Hamid Mir recently censured inhuman military repression in Balochistan. He talked openly against the armys involvement in mass abductions, killings, and mass burials of Baloch people. Baluchistans case is quite similar to the case of Bangladesh. All they wanted was their democratic share in everything, but what they were given was mass killings, rapes, abductions, hunger, and poverty. Hamid is the son of a legendary Pakistani journalist Waris Mir who stood for rights of Bengal and faced never-ending persecution by the establishment and their cronies like Jamaat-e-Islami. Time has come for Pakistanis to demand an end to the armys meddling in media affairs. Pakistan army should realise that Pakistanis wanted the country to stand out as a true democracy but their involvement in every business makes it look like a banana republic or a North Korea-style authoritarian regime to the world. And just like the security agencies of civilised world, Pakistanis should also learn to work under their constitutional limits. All Pakistanis should now decide to stop the bloodshed. Perhapstoday,Pakistanis have a chance to free themselves from the clutches of its violent forces if everyone stood their ground. l Afnan Khan is a Pakistan-based journalist. His last job in Pakistan was as Chief Reporter of the Daily Times newspaper while also serving as the Joint Secretary of Punjab Union of Journalists.
Hang em high
ou might be taken by surprise by the title of the piece or take the scribe as a lunatic. Why am I demanding the gallows, and for whom? No, I am not renewing the demand for hanging the war criminals. They are already under trial and the tribunal is dealing with the cases. I am talking about those forces who are our own kin, our own men, out to destroy the nation. The food poisoning syndicate (FPS) is working under the nose of the powers, right in the open glare of the media, and within the knowledge of the law enforcing members. We catch regular print reports carried with full-blown pictures and TV grabs of the victims who fall sick after consuming adulterated food, fruits, or drinks. We are served with unpleasant reports of dissipated vegetables and fruit traders selling their goods with coats of pesticides, the greedy fish trader selling fish dipped and preserved in formalin and that too at outrageous prices, restaurants selling stale and contaminated food often prepared with poisoned cooking oil and spices. We are now familiar with intelligence of all sorts of contamination and adulteration in the crop and food sector. In fact, the whole food sector has been poisoned in a planned way. A syndicate is in operation to see that its well-oiled machine of impure food trade goes unimpeded, thanks to the consortium of the godfathers!
Why is this happening? To find the roots is not impossible. It is simply an opportunity used by killer minds and greedy souls. The growing demand for food and the unplanned lifestyle of the millions (unaware and uneducated) make way for these villains of the society. They have a nexus both at home and abroad, and work in tandem within their chains. Along the line of production, adulterating process and supply, they work in strict order and with effective communication. Everyone involved enjoys a pleasing pay, each getting his share according to the service delivered.
lie in wait for the posterity. The whole nation is being slowly pushed to death. What kind of crime is this? This is one of the gravest crimes against humanity. Shooting someone or murdering with a blunt weapon or committing rape and arson are not the only crimes against humanity. The mixing of poisonous elements in food should be treated as the gravest sin and biggest crime in the current context. We dont need to look far to find such examples. We can find examples of hanging by the neck or executions carried out by shooting squads in many countries for poisoning or adulteration.
The top national agenda should be to free the nation from the food poisoning syndicate
According to latest press reports, the whole nation is now forced to consume infected and impure food, fish, meat, fruits, and drinks. The sad part is, even reputed food and grocery outlets are not reliable any more. Where do we go from here? Instead of ringing the alarm bell, we have apparently fallen in the traps and dont give a damn about the slow poisoning of ourselves and our children. We even fail to realise the dangers that
China is the biggest example. The country set an example by executing those criminals who took part in the adulteration of baby food. The government is doing a great job by trying to save the hapless lot from the poison syndicate who are out to destroy the nation for money. In Bangladesh, the same crime is being committed. This is genocide in silence. Masterminds and their collaborators are at work round the
clock. While we become numb and paralysed, they are awake and active, watching us drown in the ocean of permanent slumber. What should we do? Since this is being done within our parameters and our own people are involved, we should easily apprehend them and take them to such severe task that the whole process of the killing trade will come to a halt within a short span of time. They should be brought to justice immediately. If there are laws to punish them, these are not enough. Arrests, imposing fines, and letting them free is something like playing with the sentiments of the people and making a mockery of law of the land. Plain and simple, the government should send a message to these elements through a proper channel (ministries and other government bodies) that the utmost measures are being taken to arrest the culprits and to stop this dangerous trade. The culprits should be caught and handed the most severe punishment. They ought to be tried in full notice of the nation, each proceeding and the list of their crimes ought to be made public, and they should be shown no mercy at all. The proven criminal should be sent to the gallows. Leaving aside all politics of rhetoric, the top national agenda should be to free the nation from the food poisoning syndicate and save the nation from passing off into permanent hibernation. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and a DT columnist.
Modi alert
A
n Uday Sankar Das
s Indias polling marathon for the 16th Lok Sabha enters into the last three laps, and voters have been swarming the polling centres in increasing numbers, one point being discussed in depth is should Indias neighbours become wary if there is a change in government in Delhi? It is now felt that a Congress-led government is unlikely to get a third term in office, and the likelihood is that either a BJP-led alliance would sweep to power, or a non-BJP and non-Congress government could be stitched up with the regional parties (with or without the support of the Congress Party) to take charge in Delhi. It is usually seen that the basic tenets of Indias foreign policy do not undergo a wholesale change with a change of government national interests take precedence over party ideologies. The countrys national security comes before everything else. Political observers feel that in case of a non-Congress and also a non-BJP government ie a Third Front taking control in Delhi, where Congress may also join up, they would follow the existing policy regarding Indias neighbouring countries. The neighbours in that case need not have sleepless nights. But, if the Modi juggernaut moving across the country catches the peoples imagination and a BJP-led government is formed, the scenario takes a different turn. If, for example, Modi has to take the support of Jayalalitha in Tamil Nadu and Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, he would try to bring in the states as partners in the execution of the countrys foreign policy. The reason behind such a move is that the Centres hand is seen to be weakened by conceding veto to the states, as has been evident in the past in the cases of both Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. If, however, Modi does not require the support of the other parties and the BJP-led alliance bags the magical number of seats of 272 or more, political analysts believe there could be changes and the neighbours would need to keep a close watch on Modis moves. In its election manifesto, Hindu nationalist, BJP emphasises on the need to restore a resurgent India to its rightful place in the comity of nations and raises the idea of taking a strong stand and steps in the neighbourhood, if necessary. BJP also says there will be zero tolerance of terrorism and extremism. In a recent interview, Narendra Modi said: I believe in Hindutva, which is based on the age-old concept of Vasudeva Kutumba. I believe mutual respect for one another and cooperation should be the basis for relationships with foreign nations. I will follow the policies of the Vajpayee-led NDA government And I dont think a decision taken by any individual or one event should impact the overall policy. stan. He very efficiently conducted the Lahore bus diplomacy and did not budge in going into war with Pakistan over Kargil. Pragmatic, Modi might be, but he is yet to attain the stature required of the leader of a country that is termed as an emerging world power. Looking at some of Indias neighbours and Modis comments, the BJP prime ministerial candidate, in an election speech recently has warned China to shed its mindset of expansionism and in the past, he has talked tough against Pakistan for attacks by militants in India. Narendra Modis advisers have already said that India will get tougher on territorial disputes with China and in its old rivalry with Pakistan if he becomes the prime minister in May after a general election. In general, BJP is seen as tougher on the issue of terrorism traced to Pakistan. But, it must also be borne in mind that as chief minister of the state of Gujarat for more than a decade, Modi has often sought investment from China and has a record of pursuing close commercial ties with its northern neighbour. Modi would, therefore, have to do a balancing act by defending Indias security interests on the one hand and growing business links with the worlds second-biggest economy on the other. As regards Bangladesh, there is a perception that a Congress-led government in India usually maintains a good relationship with Bangladesh when Awami League is in power. There is a historic perspective to it. But, it has also been seen that when these two parties are in power in their respective countries, many issues remain unresolved. The two main unsettled issues between the two countries now relate to Teesta and Land Boundary Agreement, including the enclaves. It has also been seen that during the last AL-led government in Bangladesh when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Indian prime minister, relations between the two countries were cordial. There was that gruesome incident at Padua, when many people died in a border skirmish and horrific pictures were published in the newspapers in Bangladesh. However, it did not take long for the two sides to sit across the table and bring an end to their differences. The Ganges water sharing agreement was also renewed during the rule of the last BJP-led government in India. However, there has been some election-time rhetoric from BJP leaders relating to Bangladesh in the recent past and that has not gone down very well, with justification, among the common people here. One might say that these have no bearing on the foreign policy to be pursued by India, but these do create a dangerous precedent and also ill-feelings in the minds of people. As one political analyst said recently: Poll rhetoric is one thing and statesmanship is something else. It is widely felt that Narendra Modi, unlike Vajpayee, is not a man of the world. Modi as prime minister of India would mean a RSS takeover, or certainly Hindu fundamentalist takeover. There is a feeling that they would take up the Bangladeshi immigrants issue very strongly. The problem relating to river water-sharing between India and Bangladesh would need the help of the concerned state governments. If the state governments are non-BJP non-allies, then finding solutions would be even more complex. As regards Indian foreign policy outline and relations with its neighbours, we have so far seen a broad consensus, irrespective of which party comes to power. But things have changed in this election campaign. As one of Narendra Modis aides recently said: This time, if there is a change in government, I do expect a break from that tradition. l Uday Sankar Das is a senior journalist who worked for BBC World Service radio and is presently based in Chittagong.
There has been some rhetoric from BJP leaders relating to Bangladesh that has not gone down well
While very strongly maintaining that he would be pursuing the policies that Atal Bihari Vajpayees NDA alliance had followed, Modi has also said in no uncertain terms that he appreciated Vajpayees ability to projectstrength and preservepeace. There is, however, a vast difference between the political acumen of Atal Behari Vajpayee and that of Narendra Modi. Vajpayee showed his statesmanship and farsightedness in pursuing his countrys relationship with Paki-
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
Child artistes of Nrityanchal perform at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on April 28 on the first day of a two-day event organised by the dance school marking International Dance Day
SADIA MARIUM
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Germany A Sporting Nation Time: 11am 6pm Goethe Institut Bangladesh Road 9(new), House 10 Dhanmondi Water Rhymes-2 Time: 11am 8pm Galleri Kaya, House 20, Road 16, Sector 04, Uttara Group Art Exhibition Time: 11am 8pm Zainul Gallery, Charukala, Dhaka University, Shahbag Bonded Stitches & Struggle Time: 3pm 8pm Drik Gallery House 58 Road 15A (New) Dhanmondi
Film
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (3D & 2D) Jonakir Alo The Legend of Hercules 3D Avatar in 3D Frozen in 3D Enders Game Time: 10am 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka Panthopath
Music
Theatre
Konjush By Loko Natyadol Time: 7pm Experimental Theatre, Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha Paintings displayed at the exhibition
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
14 Barcelona pay
14 Juventus
I can say that I will meet him (Jurgensen) when he comes to Dhaka. His resignation has not been approved yet as the board president is not in the country
runs smooth at the office. I believe we do have the strength to overcome the bad patch and it will happen soon, affirmed Mushfiqur. However, before he faced the media, the Bangladesh captain signed a one year contract with Goldmark Foods Ltd. The event was attended by its Managing Director Mohammad Bashir, Executive Director Jahir Uddin Mahmud Khan, General Manager (Marketing) Md. Monir Hossain and Brand Manager Md. Golam Sarwar Rubel. Monowar Hossain Pathan, Managing Director of Prionti Communication and Geeteara Safiya Choudhury, Chairman of ADCOMM Ltd. were also present in the ceremony. l
Team BJMC midfielder Abdullah al Parvez goes wild after scoring a sensational goal against Mohammedan SC during their Bangladesh Premier League match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M
Mohammaden were left to rue that chance as the introduction of Abdullah Al Parvez in place of Shahnur Rahman Rony, changed the course of the game immediately in favour of BJMC. Parvez made an instant impact when in the 81st minute he curled in a cross from the right flank that found Samson at the second bar who out-muscled and out-jumped his marker to head home past Mamun to make it 2-2. When it seemed that the game was heading for a draw, Parvez produced that magical moment in the injury time to leave the Mohammedan fans stunned as his wonderful but yet an incredible lob found the back of the net to seal a memorable victory for his club. A dull opening half and a wasteful second-half meant the match between Chittagong Abahani and Uttar Baridhara could earn nothing but a goal-less stalemate which leaves both clubs with seven points from 12 matches with Chittagong Abahani ahead only on goal difference. l
Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (R) poses for a photograph with Mohammad Bashir, Managing Director of Goldmark Foods Limited, after signing as their brand ambassador at a city hotel yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE
Al Hikmah Muslim Academy from Rajshahi celebrate with the trophy after emerging as the champions of the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium yesterday MUMIT M
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Shobukhova gets 2-year doping ban
Russian marathon star Liliya Shobukhova was on Tuesday banned for two years by the national track and field athletics federations anti-doping panel. The 36-year-old was banned based on abnormalities in the haematological profile of her biological passport, which indicates a high probability of blood doping. The ban will be backdated to January 24, 2013 and will end on January 23, 2015. All her results from October 9, 2009, were cancelled, meaning her marathon best of 2hr 18mi 20sec, set in winning in Chicago in 2011, will be wiped from the record books. AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
FC Barcelona football team, including (L R) Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, attend former coach Tito Vilanovas memorial service at Barcelona Cathedral on Monday REUTERS
#WeAreAllMonkeys, #NoToRacism
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
Woods holds on to number one spot
Tiger Woods has stayed atop the world rankings despite his continued absence from competitive golf following back surgery. The 38-year-old US superstar was treated for a bulging disc in his spine in late March and subsequently pulled out of the Masters, the first of the years four majors. He is in serious doubt for the US Open at Pinehurst in mid-June with reports saying he could be targetting a return to action at the British Open which starts at Hoylake, near Liverpool, on July 17. l
RANKING
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. Tiger Woods (USA) Adam Scott (AUS) Henrik Stenson (SWE) Bubba Watson (USA) Matt Kuchar (USA) Jason Day (AUS) Jordan Spieth (USA) Sergio Garcia (ESP) Phil Mickelson (USA) Justin Rose (ENG) Rory McIlroy (NIR) Zach Johnson (USA) Dustin Johnson (USA) Graeme McDowell (NIR) Steve Stricker (USA) Charl Schwartzel (RSA) Luke Donald (ENG) Jason Dufner (USA) Keegan Bradley (USA) 8.46 8.18 8.00 7.35 7.14 6.70 6.02 5.90 5.85 5.80 5.74 5.47 5.24 4.44 4.33 4.29 4.22 4.17 4.13 4.13
Strugglers Hamburg SV could have playmaker Rafael van der Vaart back for their game against champions Bayern Munich on Saturday in their penultimate chance to avoid their first ever relegation. The 31-year-old Dutch midfielder, out for weeks with a thigh muscle injury, returned to team training on Tuesday, raising the possibility of him playing against the Bavarians. Hamburg, nicknamed dinosaur for being the only club to have played in the Bundesliga every season since its creation in 1963, are on the relegation playoff spot with 27 points, one above Nuremberg and two ahead of last-placed Eintracht Braunschweig with two games left in the season. The distance to safety and 15th spot, currently occupied by VfB Stuttgart who are five points ahead, is almost out of reach following their 3 1 defeat at Augsburg on Sunday. Reuters
Kolkata Knight Riders allrounder Shakib al Hasan (C) celebrates the wicket of Sanju Samson of the Rajatshan Royals during their Indian Premier League match in UAE yesterday
BCCI
Man City, PSG have chance Huegill apologises after drugs charge to settle FFP breaches
Big-spending Manchester City and Paris St-Germain have been given the chance to settle breaches of UEFAs financial fair play (FFP) rules that will leave them free to play in next seasons Champions League. UEFAs club financial control board has offered settlement deals in recent weeks to teams deemed to have broken rules designed to rein in reckless spending and make soccer more stable economically. The panel will meet on Thursday to consider responses by the fewer than 20 teams affected and its decisions will be announced over the next few days, a source close to the process said. The likely sanctions range from a reprimand, to a fine or a cap on squad size for European competition for next season. UEFA has the power to ban teams from European competition if their losses exceed its limits but is expected to shy away from imposing that heaviest punishment at this stage. If the sanctions are not tough enough, rival clubs are likely to complain that offenders are being let off with a slap on the wrist and that the much-vaunted process has been a sham. Clubs that fail to agree a settlement at this stage will have their cases settled by an adjudicatory panel. Having spent heavily to compete with the best teams in Europe in recent seasons, Manchester City and PSG appeared most at risk of falling foul of the rules. City, in the running for their second Premier League title in three years, have been bankrolled by cash from Abu Dhabis Sheikh Mansour while PSG have been lavishly funded by their Qatari owners and now dominate French soccer. UEFA spokesman David Farrelly declined to comment on the reports at this stage. City and PSG were unavailable for comment. The rules are being introduced to force clubs to live within their means and prevent those with rich owners from simply spending their way to success. In February, UEFA secretary general Gianni Infantino said 76 European clubs out of 237 originally assessed had been asked to submit additional information about their finances ahead of the new rules which come into full effect next season. l Former Olympic swimmer Geoff Huegill apologised Tuesday after being charged with cocaine possession as he faced a professional backlash. The two-time Olympic medallist and his wife were allegedly found with the illegal drug during a police raid on a glamorous horseracing event in Sydney on Saturday. Some people feel that they have been let down and I deeply apologise for that, the 35-year-old told the Nine Network. Huegill, an inspirational figure in Australian swimming after a comeback from retirement in which he shed a whopping 45 kilograms over 18 months to win gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, is due to face court on May 14. His brush with the law could cost him, with water safety body AustSwim suspending Huegill as an ambassador
pending the outcome of his court case. However, if the allegations are proven then AustSwims standards would not allow him to continue in his role as an AustSwim ambassador, it said. One of his sponsors, Swisse, told reporters Huegill was used as part of a contract with Swimming Australia which ends in May. But it said the companys decision not to renew the deal was unrelated to the latest incident. Another sponsor, Speedo, would not comment. Huegill won bronze in the 100m butterfly and silver in the 4x100m medley relay at the Sydney 2000 Olympics but quit the sport soon after the Athens Games, where he finished eighth in the 100m butterfly final. Six years after retiring, he made inspiring swims at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi to win silver in the 50m butterfly and gold in the 100m final. l
The Belgian recovered from 3 5 down in the second set to earn her win in just under two hours over Radwanska, 73rd-ranked younger sister of third-ranked Radwanska
Raonic will start his second campaign at the Jamor Sports Complex in the second round after a bye, playing on Wednesday against the winner from Aleksandr Nedovyesov of the Ukraine or Uruguays Pablo Cuevas. He was forced to quit a 2011 Portugal semi-final against Spains Fernando Gonzalez due to back pain.
Raonic has reached the quarter-finals of all three Masters 1000 events so far this season, in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, where he lost to eventual champion and 2013 Oeiras champion Stanislas Wawrinka. With opening-day qualifying rounds still wrapping up on both the mens and womens sides of the draws, 2009 champion Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium reached the second round over Ursula Radwanska 6-4, 7-5. Oeiras five years ago was the first of the 58th-ranked Wickmayers three career titles. The Belgian recovered from 3-5 down in the second set to earn her win in just under two hours over Radwanska, 73rd-ranked younger sister of thirdranked Agnieszka Radwanska. Serbian Bojana Jovanovski beat Monica Puig of Puerto Rico 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in just over two and a quarter-hours. l
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six 8:30PM Indian Premier League Mumbai v Hyderabad NBA Play Off 2013 14 6:00AM Chicago v Washington 8:30AM La Clippers v Golden State
An action from the match between Narail and Jamalpur during their Marcel Inter Divisional Womens Kabaddi semifinal at the Kabaddi Stadium yesterday COURTESY
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
Farmers spend a busy day harvesting at their paddy field at Rupganj upazila in Narayanganj yesterday
Garment factory owners contribute 2 BCL men lose limbs in attack, 15 held n naught to labour welfare fund
RU Correspondent
Mohosinul Karim
The garment factory owners do not have any contribution to the Labours Welfare Foundation Fund of the Labour and Employment Ministry that has now a total of Tk50 crore deposited in its account.
As per the law it is mandatory for an industrial unit to deposit 5% of their profit share from the net annual profit of Tk1 crore or more than that to the Labour Welfare Foundation Fund
They are not interested in contributing their profit shares to the fund, Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar said yesterday. We failed to draw their attention after communicating with them several times. Which is why the government has decided to create an independent fund for welfare of garment workers,
he said at a press briefing on the occasion of May Day held at the secretariat. He said seven organisations agreed to donate Tk8 crore to the fund. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will receive the cheques at a discussion meeting marking the May Day at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. The seven companies are British American Tobacco Bangladesh, Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd, Nestle Bangladesh Ltd, Linday Bangladesh Ltd, Crown Cement Ltd, Singer Bangladesh Ltd and Coats Bangladesh Ltd, Shipar said. The secretary said, the fund was founded in 2006 while it was functional in 2008. But unfortunately neither local nor foreign garment factories showed any interest to deposit only 0.5% of their profit share to this fund. A total of Tk50 crore was deposited by 19 industrial units excepting readymade garment (RMG) factories since its inception in 2008, the secretary said. As per the law it is mandatory for an industrial unit to deposit 5% of their profit share from the net annual profit of Tk1 crore or more than that to the Labour Welfare Foundation Fund. From the fund, the factory owner will distribute 4% of the money directly to their factory workers and 0.5% will be
deposited in the factory Labour Welfare Fund while the remaining 0.5% to the Labour Welfare Foundation Fund of the Labour Employment Ministry to be used for the security of workers, Shipar said. Replying to a query the secretary said: We will compel the owners of the industrial units to deposit the said profit share. Each industrial unit will have to pay a fine of Tk5, 000 for one day. Moreover, cases will be filed against those who fail to deposit the money in time. About the fixation of salaries, the secretary said they had identified 42 sectors including the RMG and the government is planning to form a minimum wage board to fix salaries of three crore workers in the country. The board will fix the salaries of the workers every five year. On the May Day programme the secretary said a colourful rally will be brought out from the Srama Bhaban at 7am and a discussion meeting will be held at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium at 10am to mark the day. State Minister for Labour and Employment Mojibul Haque Chunnu and Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Labour and Employment Ministry Munnujan Sufian will attend the functions. l
A group of unidentified miscreants severed limbs of two Bangladesh Chhatra League activists in broad daylight on Rajshahi University campus yesterday morning. The victims, Abdullah Al Masud and Tagar Mohammad Saleh, were on their way to the university on a rickshaw when they were attacked near Ziaur Rahman Hall around 8:15am, said Alamgir Hossain, OC of Motihar police station. After severely injuring the victims, the attackers set off two crude bombs and promptly left the scene, said witnesses. A few local shop owners and the guards at Ziaur Rahman Hall then rushed Masud and Saleh to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said the OC. The culprits hacked off Masuds right leg from knee and severed the tendons of Salehs arms and legs, according to sources at the medical college hospital. Later, they were moved to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in the capitals Agargaon area as their conditions worsened, the Chhatra League leaders said. Masud is an activist of Chhatra Leagues Rajshahi University unit,
while Saleh is the student scholarship affair secretary, according to the student partys leaders. Both are second-year students at the university and residents of Madar Bux Hall.
Both BCL leaders and police suspect that Shibir activists were involved in the incident
Both Chhatra League leaders and police suspect that activists of Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, were involved in the incident. Alamgir said: Shibir might have been involved in the attack. We have arrested 15 Shibir activists on suspicion that they may be involved with the case. The arrested were currently being interrogated at Motihar police station, he said, adding that police would continue looking for the miscreants responsible for the attack.
Mizanur Rahman Rana, president of the Rajshahi University unit of Chhatra League, claimed Shibir activists were involved in the attack and demanded immediate arrest of those responsible for it. However, when contacted, Shoyeb Shahriar, organising secretary of Shibirs unit in the university, denied all allegations and said the attack was the result of Chhatra Leagues internal feud. Professor Tariqul Hasan, proctor of the university, told the Dhaka Tribune that additional police had been deployed on the campus to deter further untoward situation. Following the incident, Chhatra League activists brought out a procession on the campus in protest and demanding justice. l
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
GP, Robi & Teletalk report profits in 2013 BB set Tk6,000cr credit
n Muhammad Zahidul Islam
Three mobile phone operators Grameenphone, Robi and Teletalk - made a total net profit of Tk1,883.4 crore in 2013. But Other three operators - Airtel, Banglalink and Citycell - incurred a net l oss of Tk1,358.3 crore. The operators disclosed the figures recently in a classified presentation with the National Board of Revenue on Thursday last. The total revenue of the six operators for the year 2013 amounted to Tk20,373 crore, which might increased a little more in the upcoming years. According to the document, the operators claimed that their market size would be grown further by up to Tk23,419 crore only if the NBR brings some regulatory changes. During the last five years, although all the six operators earned a revenue worth Tk83,481 crore, only two of them made profits, says the report. It is our hardcore calculation and we jointly worked on it for last two months to find out the real estimates, said TIM Nurul Kabir, secretary general of the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob). He also disclosed that all the chief financial officers of the six mobile phone operators were engaged in preparing the presentation on the basis of the performances of their respective companies. In the presentation Amtob claimed that low industry profitability was hindering growth and investment in the sector. Grameenphone made profit of Tk7,665.6 crore in between 2009 and 2013 while their revenue was around Tk41,714.3 crore. The onlylisted mobile operator also pany earned Tk4,154.3 crore as revenue and Tk3,413.6 crore as net loss in the last five years. Only state-owned operator Teletalk made Tk46.4 crore profit on their revenue of 660.3 crore on 2013 while they observed Tk98.9 crore net loss in the last five years from Tk1,734.9 crore revenues. Citycell, the oldest operator in South East Asia, somehow, managedto earn Tk243 crore revenue in 2013 with a net loss of Tk303.7 core. The company had to calculate Tk1,922.8 crore as its revenue while Tk724.3 crore as net loss in between 2009 and 2013. Nurul Kabir noted that the whole telecom industry was running through a cross road and stressed the need for working together to put the industry on right track. The above mentioned figures only demonstrate how the telecom industry is sturggling and if the decision makers dont realise the situation, the telecom industry will soon become a sick industry very soon, added secretary general of Amtob. Amtob in its another presentation showed that if the tax regulator could bring some changes in some regulations, the revenue of the telecom industry could jump up to Tk23,419 crore bythe year 2016. But if the regulation remain unchanged, the size of the total market will be hardly Tk22,197crore within the same period. Amtob presentation also estimated that the loss of the Airtel and Citycell might be increased further after two years though Banglalinks might be able to reduce some its loss. Though Grameenphone and Teletalks profit may increase in the coming days, the profit of Robi is, however, likely to be decreased if the regulation remains same. l
made Tk1,470.2 crore profit last year. Though Robi has not been consistent in profitmaking but the record shows that the operator made Tk560.5 crore net profit against its net income worth Tk16,078.8 croreduring the last five years. The profit and revenue of Robi stood at Tk366.8 crore and Tk4,517.1 crore respectively in 2013, according to the presentation. However, Banglalink could not make any profit in the last five years even in the year 2013, being num-
ber two operators in terms of subscriber numbers. Its net loss stood at around Tk2,037.6 crore during the last five years as its revenue was only Tk17,878.8 crore. On the other hand, Airtel never disclosed their revenue and profit or loss statement after launching its operation in Bangladesh since 2010. But, this presentation unveiled that their revenue stood at Tk1,354.9 crore while it incurred a net loss of Tk625.1 crore in the year 2013. It was also estimated that the com-
passed the loan ceiling fixed for last year. The credit ceiling of Sonali Bank has been set at Tk1,328 crore for the year 2014, which is 6% of the adjusted loan status of Tk22,133 crore in 2013. The adjusted loan growth rate of Sonali Bank was negative 7.07% in the last year against the target limit of 8% set by Bangladesh Bank. The total loan growth of the banks decreased by 11.67% or Tk3,963 crore in the last year. The loan disbursement limit of the Agrani Bank has been set at Tk1,676 crore for the year 2014, whichi is 10% of the adjusted loan status of Tk16,764 crore of 2013. Adjusted loan growth rate of Agrani Bank was negative 0.63% during the last year against the target limit of 10%. Total loan disbursement of the bank reduced by 7.76% or Tk1529.44 crore in the year 2013. The credit limit of the Janata Bank has been set at Tk2,206 crore for the year 2014, which is 10% of the adjusted loan status of Tk22,067 crore of 2013. The growth target of the Janata Bank was same in the last year but the bank was able to achieve only 1.15% of its target. The total loan disbursement of the bank was reduced by 8.59% or Tk2,405 crore in the year 2013. The central bank set the credit limit of the Rupali Bank at Tk976 crore for the year 2014, which is 12% of the total adjusted loan status of Tk8,139 crore of 2013. The adjusted loan growth of the bank increased by 13.98% in the year 2013 against its 10% target limit of the adjusted loan status set in the MoU. The total loan growth of the bank increased by 18.59% or Tk1,613 crore in the last year. The central bank punished the Rupali Bank asking it to block the excess loans that it had disbursed beyond its target limit. l
Moodys ranks Bangladesh 13th for NBR may offer tax relief controlling corruption
for factory relocation
n Syed Samiul Basher Anik
The government plans to provide temporary tax relief to the entrepreneurs just for relocating their industries outside the capital. National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md. Ghulam Hussain yesterday came up with the disclosure while addressing a pre-budget discussion with the representatives of Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) at the NBR headquarters in the capital. As Dhaka has scored top as the worst livable city in the world, Ghulam Hossain requested the businesses to address this issues, bringing some changings in their business policy. Referring to a recent global survey conducted by Economist Intelligence Unit, he noted that Dhaka had earned 38.7 points on a scale of 100, which is lowest among other major cities in the world. Those, who will establish industries in and around the capital like Savar, Ashulia, Gazipur or Narayanganj has to pay higher taxes but those who will shift businesses far from the capital or establish new industries outside the city will enjoy temporary tax relief, he categorically said. He assured the business of ensuring all the facilities for relocating their industries outside of Dhaka, which could also be helpfulfor the workers to work in a hygienic atmosphere, which is totally absent in Dhaka. Businesses have started to go outside the capital as major investors like Globe, Lalmai Group, Partex Group have already moved to Noakhali region. If you shift your industries, you will get benefits, which will be increased further in case of the new investors, he clarified. During the meeting, the BCI leaders placed a 73-point recommendations to the NBR for considering before finalising the budget for the next fiscal 2014-15. The BCI Director Mohabbat Ullah, also managing director of Nippon Industries Pvt. Limited, urged the NBR to reduce the tax on annual gross income at 0.25% from 0.5%. He also urged the NBR to provide tax holiday without any conditions, especially for the newly established industries in the less developed and remote areas. In response, NBR chairman asked the BCI leaders to come up with a specific proposal and submit it to NBR for consideration. Other demands of BCI include providing special benefits to small companies, who import intermediary materials and make assemblies here, supporting jute factories, fixing 0% tax on import of mould (capital machinery for industries), imposing more taxes on imported biscuits, reducing duties at import of lorry and pickups etc. BCI also demanded for the withdrawal of taxes from capital machinery import for plastic industry, gas generator, withdrawal of VAT from local made plastic toys, reducing customs duty from 25% to 5% for import of component of toys, increasing supplementary duty on imported plastic pipes from existing 30% to 100%, increasing supplementary duty on Completely Built Unit (CBU) motorcycles from existing 45% to 60%. Chairman of Aysha Memorial Hospital Priti Chakraborty requested the NBR to allocate a Tk500crore budget for the women entrepreneurs to support them working in the macro-level businesses. They also urged the NBR not to do audits in the industries for thrice or fourth times in a year, rather to make it once in a year and establishment of plastic testing laboratory. In response, NBR chairman said the expectation from the businesses were very high, but the NBR would consider the proposals on three point of views- revenue side, industries side, and consumers side. He also urged businesses not to focus on only reduction or increase of duties, rather to focus on policy protection. The meeting was attended, among others, by NBR member (income tax policy) Syed Aminul Karim, former NBR member (VAT) Md. Shahabuddin, BCI senior vice president Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, and director Zia Hayder Mithu. l The global rating agency Moodys has ranked Bangladesh 13th for controlling corruption among more than 100 countries it rated. It also ranked the country 9th for government effectiveness, 10th for rule of law, according to Moodys latest report of credit analysis on Bangladesh released yesterday. Poor public service quality and institutional weaknesses have led to disruptions in the disbursement of donor support in the past, as evidenced by the World Banks suspension of financing related to the Padma Bridge in 2012, said the report. Moody's earlier gave a B3 stable outlook to Bangladesh's credit rating for the fourth consecutive year. Bangladesh's Ba3 sovereign bond rating reflects the country's stable and healthy growth path, progress in implementing structural reforms under and limited vulnerability to fiscal and external funding stresses, says Moody's Investors Service. In addition, the country's external liquidity position is comfortable, with foreign reserves providing ample cushion against maturing debt obligations. Moody's conclusions were contained in its just-released credit analysis on Bangladesh which examines the fundamental drivers underlying the sovereign rating. Its report points out that Bangladesh's headline growth and exports were not meaningfully impacted by heightened political turbulence over the last year in the run-up to parliamentary elections in January 2014, or by disruptions caused by industrial accidents in the garments sector. Upward triggers to Bangladesh's rating would stem from sustained, strong economic growth supported
It gives stable outlook to credit rating for 4th year by structural improvements, partican Extended Credit Facility program n Kayes Sohel with the International Monetary Fund ularly in infrastructure; a broadening
of the tax revenue base, which would improve fiscal fundamentals and flexibility. It said Reform of the labor market and industrial working conditions, which would ensure continued favorable export prospects, while also encouraging greater foreign investment, it said. On the other hand, it said, the rating would come under downward pressure if political setbacks strain the country's economic or fiscal profile, or the crystallization of contingent liabilities in the banking system is larger than Moody's anticipates, thereby weighing on fiscal strength. However, the weak financial performance of the four state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) could result in the further crystallization of contingent liabilities that add to the fiscal burden, it noted.
B3 COLUMN 1
B2
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Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.59 6.24 5.14 5.10 4.55 4.25 4.17 4.03 3.81 3.69
Northern Jute -Z Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Kohinoor Chem -A PrimeFin. 1st MF A Deshbandhu Polymer-A AFC AgroBiotech-N Dulamia CottonZ Linde (BD) Ltd. -A Berger Paints-A Aramit -A CSE GAINERS Company Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Berger Paints-A Deshbandhu Polymer-A Eastern Housing -A ICB Emp. PMF A Prime Bank 1st MF A PrimeFin. 1st MF A AMCL 2nd MF A HeidelbergCement -A Aziz PipesZ
Average (% change) 9.67 5.28 8.74 2.68 4.44 2.36 4.60 3.12 3.78 1.12 Average (% change) 5.55 5.96 3.57 1.63 2.79 3.00 1.60 2.69 1.75 3.03
Closing average 147.50 1,140.52 341.16 20.28 18.58 53.82 7.50 1,101.62 1,203.08 301.00
Closing 147.40 1,156.90 341.60 20.60 18.40 54.00 7.50 1,101.90 1,211.90 305.90
Daily high 147.90 1,156.90 353.00 21.10 19.00 54.70 7.50 1,124.80 1,230.00 309.70
Daily low 147.00 1,090.00 301.00 19.20 16.00 51.70 7.50 999.90 1,170.00 285.50
Turnover in million 0.059 99.275 2.614 28.331 15.302 22.335 0.001 60.058 47.282 3.898
Latest EPS -10.24 59.44 9.37 1.64 0.81 1.54 -4.02 48.55 57.68 12.56
Latest PE -ve 19.2 36.4 12.4 22.9 34.9 -ve 22.7 20.9 24.0
Closing (% change) 6.24 6.04 4.49 3.83 3.51 3.51 3.50 3.17 3.08 3.03
Closing average 1150.42 1208.07 18.55 56.23 5.89 5.84 20.28 6.50 594.50 20.40
Closing 1158.00 1220.00 18.60 56.90 5.90 5.90 20.70 6.50 598.70 20.40
Daily high 1158.10 1222.00 19.00 58.00 5.90 5.90 21.00 6.50 602.90 20.40
Daily low 1100.00 1195.00 18.00 55.00 5.80 5.80 19.90 6.50 580.00 20.40
Turnover in million 11.016 1.752 3.766 2.307 0.062 0.053 0.761 0.003 3.567 0.002
Latest EPS 59.44 57.68 0.81 1.56 0.68 0.73 1.64 0.99 26.09 0.59
Latest PE 19.4 20.9 22.9 36.0 8.7 8.0 12.4 6.6 22.8 34.6
(-) 1.25% (-) 0.46% (-) 1.17% (-) 1.24% (-) 0.91% (-) 1.21%
Traded Issues 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$)
Unaudited Financials:
Average (% change) -40.17 -15.93 -9.83 -10.05 -8.88 -6.04 -8.16 -6.92
Closing average 18.80 27.65 31.56 26.32 12.52 13.84 184.48 36.86
Daily high 18.80 28.30 34.90 28.20 13.30 14.10 194.60 39.60
Daily low 18.80 27.00 31.20 25.80 12.20 12.80 182.10 35.00
Turnover in million 10.919 1.887 44.589 1.974 3.921 3.421 141.576 1.621
Latest EPS 0.55 1.98 1.39 0.36 0.24 0.74 2.95 2.71
1STICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 21.68 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 28.91 as against Tk. 18.66 million and Tk. 24.88 respectively*. 2NDICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 12.46 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 24.93 as against Tk. 11.16 million and Tk. 22.32 respectively*. 3RDICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 16.64 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 16.64 as against Tk. 17.55 million and Tk. 17.55 respectively*. 4THICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 17.33 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 17.33 as against Tk. 15.47 million and Tk. 15.47 respectively*. 5THICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 21.00 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 14.00 as against Tk. 20.93 million and Tk. 13.95 respectively*. 6THICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 24.24 million
with earnings per unit of Tk. 4.85 as against Tk. 22.73 million and Tk. 4.55 respectively*. 7THICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 27.03 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 9.01 as against Tk. 25.93 million and Tk. 8.64 respectively*. 8THICB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 29.85 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 5.97 as against Tk. 26.02 million and Tk. 5.20 respectively*. IFILISLMF1: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 80.31 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.80 as against Tk. 6.68 million and Tk. 0.07 respectively*. ICB3RDNRB: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 48.38 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.48 as against Tk. 13.99 million and Tk. 0.14 respectively*. PF1STMF: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 31.89 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.53 as against Tk. 7.28 million and Tk. 0.12 respectively*. PRIME1ICBA: (Q3): NPAT= Tk. 55.21 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.55 as against Tk. 11.83 million and Tk. 0.12 respectively*.
-8.23 -8.20
-7.35 -6.79
22.80 107.61
22.30 105.30
24.40 110.00
21.90 104.00
6.484 18.273
0.77 2.00
29.6 53.8
Closing (% change) -39.94 -17.27 -9.77 -9.69 -9.69 -8.75 -8.53 -8.28
Average (% change) -40.03 -17.70 -9.55 -8.03 -9.55 -7.50 -4.96 -7.22
Closing average 18.80 27.30 31.73 26.10 26.61 186.47 85.80 118.79
Daily high 18.80 27.50 34.20 26.10 28.80 200.50 88.50 129.70
Daily low 18.80 27.00 31.40 26.10 26.10 182.50 82.40 116.20
Turnover in million 1.940 0.041 7.865 0.010 1.902 28.031 0.927 0.487
Latest EPS 0.55 1.98 1.39 2.27 0.36 2.95 3.46 2.03
-8.15 -7.95
-10.04 -5.34
12.36 22.00
12.40 22.00
13.00 22.00
12.20 22.00
0.767 0.044
0.24 1.12
51.5 19.6
ANALYST
SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY
Sector Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture
Market is seemed to react to the fundamental stocks as index is likely to take cue from the quarterly and annual earnings of the companies
CSE Total
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A Grameenphone-A Meghna Petroleum -A BD Submarine Cable-A LafargeS Cement-Z HeidelbergCement -A
Renata Ltd. -A
DSE Million Taka 489.15 149.10 163.45 249.39 179.90 521.04 3.49 270.28 563.27 0.82 69.76 136.99 14.83 342.36 53.27 42.57 108.33 340.39 65.24 111.31 0.93
% change 12.62 3.85 4.22 6.43 4.64 13.44 0.09 6.97 14.53 0.02 1.80 3.53 0.38 8.83 1.37 1.10 2.79 8.78 1.68 2.87 0.02
Million Taka 40.94 10.04 6.73 22.68 13.51 28.26 27.03 18.79 7.14 3.07 20.81 2.08 17.69 9.45 1.67 5.50 38.87 12.92 14.42 0.01
% change 13.57 3.33 2.23 7.52 4.48 9.37 0.00 8.96 6.23 2.37 1.02 6.90 0.69 5.87 3.13 0.55 1.82 12.89 4.28 4.78 0.00
Million Taka 530.09 159.14 170.18 272.07 193.41 549.30 3.49 297.32 582.07 7.96 72.83 157.81 16.92 360.05 62.72 44.24 113.83 379.26 78.16 125.74 0.94
% change 12.69 3.81 4.07 6.51 4.63 13.15 0.08 7.12 13.93 0.19 1.74 3.78 0.40 8.62 1.50 1.06 2.72 9.08 1.87 3.01 0.02
Volume shares 821,341 747,827 624,938 767,420 2,188,000 224,650 96,606 429,770 87,044 274,923
Value in million 225.37 198.81 190.25 141.58 140.60 133.52 112.38 101.12 99.28 94.95
% of total turnover 5.81 5.13 4.91 3.65 3.63 3.44 2.90 2.61 2.56 2.45
Daily closing 277.00 267.90 303.70 182.10 64.20 597.90 1172.90 236.00 1156.90 343.70
Price change 1.65 1.94 -0.85 -8.77 -1.08 3.03 3.22 -0.51 6.24 -0.17
Daily opening 272.50 262.80 306.30 199.60 64.90 580.30 1136.30 237.20 1088.90 344.30
Daily high 278.00 269.00 309.50 194.60 65.00 603.00 1180.00 238.00 1156.90 349.00
Daily low 260.00 250.00 280.00 182.10 63.70 571.80 1100.00 233.30 1090.00 330.00
Daily average 274.39 265.85 304.44 184.48 64.26 594.35 1163.28 235.30 1140.52 345.37
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
UNITED AIR A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z Meghna Petroleum -A aamra technologies-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Premier Bank -A Matin Spinning-N Square Pharma -A BSC A National Bank - B Padma Oil Co. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N
150,326 958,304 9,576 40,800 167,000 33,359 247,830 263,064 625,903 170,800 23,308 10,775 463,100 16,164 211,600
Value in million
28.03 12.13 11.02 10.84 10.72 10.15 7.86 7.25 7.10 6.64 6.42 6.29 6.17 5.59 5.39
% of total turnover
10.10 4.37 3.97 3.91 3.87 3.66 2.83 2.61 2.56 2.40 2.32 2.27 2.22 2.02 1.94
Daily closing
182.50 12.60 1158.00 267.30 64.20 303.70 31.40 27.20 11.20 38.60 276.50 573.30 13.20 343.90 25.10
Price change
-8.75 -3.08 6.24 1.98 -0.31 -0.65 -9.77 -4.23 1.82 -1.53 1.43 -1.92 -2.94 -0.64 -3.83
Daily opening
200.00 13.00 1090.00 262.10 64.40 305.70 34.80 28.40 11.00 39.20 272.60 584.50 13.60 346.10 26.10
200.50 13.00 1158.10 269.00 64.90 307.00 34.20 28.40 11.90 39.60 277.60 595.00 13.70 348.70 26.40
182.50 12.40 1100.00 260.40 63.20 300.00 31.40 27.00 11.10 38.40 272.50 571.00 13.10 343.00 25.00
Daily average
186.47 12.65 1150.42 265.68 64.22 304.20 31.73 27.56 11.34 38.90 275.61 584.00 13.32 345.90 25.47
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
FBCCI seeks Swiss investment for SMEs development n Tribune Business Desk
Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has sought investment from Switzerland for the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the country. FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed made the call at a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Fotsch held on Monday in Dhaka. Lauding the role of the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC) in improving employment conditions, promoting income generating activities and improving local governance in the country, he called upon the ambassador to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the FBCCI and National Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Switzerland in this regard. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), an apex trade organisation of the country, also stressed the need for further enhancing bilateral trade along with more investment, which is currently not significant enough. In reply, Christian Fotsch said he would try to attract Swiss investors to invest in SMEs sectors in Bangladesh along with the large corporate sectors. During the financial year 2012-2013, Bangladesh exported an amount of US$121.38m to Switzerland while imports were around $185m. The meeting was also attended by the director of FBCCI Kazi Shahnewaz. l
allowing capital inflow and outflow among South East Asian nations. But he cautioned that trade openness would be counterproductive if the associate risks were not addressed with appropriate preemptive measures. He recommended for ensuring effective regional coordination in regulatory and policy approaches for making trade openness beneficial to the economy. Delegates from the central banks of SAARC countries and high officials from Bangladesh Bank, different ministries, other national and international institutions participated in the seminar.
In his keynote paper, Dr. ABM Azizul Islam said in terms of total trade as percent of GDP, Sri Lanka has been found the most open economy in this region among four major economies (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) followed by Bangladesh. In last three decades, numbers of countries have opened-up their economy. Some of them are very much benefited since they have utilized and managed the flow of foreign capital successfully for their growth and development, he said. On the other hand some countries had to face severe financial crises since
they could not manage the flows of capital to their countries. He said as reform and liberalisation measures were being pursued, the degree of integration of Bangladesh economy with world economy has increased gradually and country is now trade dependent country from being an aid dependent country. The countrys openness indicatortrade-GDP ratio increased from 18.5% in FY1990 to 30% in FY2000 and towards the decade, the steady growth of the ratio notable increased and reached to 47.1% in FY2013, according to the keynote paper. l
Moodys ranks
B1 COLUMN 3
Although ongoing reforms, if successfully implemented, would improve SOCB competitiveness and restore their financial viability over time. Moodys said the poor financial strength of state-owned banks also adds to banking-sector vulnerabilities, although we view contagion risks as limited. The IMF has estimated total recapitalization needs for the banking system at 1.0-3.5% of GDP. In September last year, the government once disbursed Tk4,100 crore or 0.3% of GDP, to the state-owned banks when their aggregate capital shortfall was over Tk8,000 core. According to the finance ministry, the government plans to inject more funds into four state-owned commercial banks Sonali, Janata, Agrani and Rupali to make up for the significant capital shortfall that has alarmed both the World Bank and IMF. Banking division has already proposed to provide Tk6000 crore to the state-owned banks for addressing their address capital inadequacies. As of December last year, capital shortfall of Sonali Bank stood at Tk249 crore, Rupali Tk107 crore, Janata Tk404 crore and Agrani Tk92 crore, according to the Bangladesh Bank. The timely implementation of the reform measures should eventually restore financial viability to the SOCBs, but we will be monitoring the stability of the banks and the possibility of contingent liabilities stemming from their operations, said Moodys. l
REUTERS
Prime Bank Limited on Sunday received the first prize in the ICMAB Best Corporate Award 2013 in the category of private commercial bank (traditional operation). The banks managing director and CEO, Md Ehsan Khasru received the award from the Finance Minister AMA Muhith
Export Organisations (FIEO), a government-affiliated organisation, told AFP. We ask the EU to look into the matter - we have taken care of the issues. Now they should lift the ban, Ahmed said. Meanwhile, a commerce ministry official told AFP that New Delhi has already raised the issue with Brussels. The EU plant health care committee announced plans last month to introduce the ban after 207 Indian consignments of fruits and vegetables were found to be contaminated by pests such as fruit flies. Among the vegetables banned are bitter gourd and eggplant. The EU said it acted to tackle what it called significant shortcomings in
Standard Bank Limited has recently won the third best corporate award of 2013 from the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB). The banks managing director, Md Nazmus Salehin seen receiving the award from the Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Bangladesh has been recognised as the Best Foreign Commercial Bank at the ICAMB Best Corporate Awards 2013 recently. Steve Ball, the banks CFO of HSBC Bangladesh is seen receiving the award from the Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith
NRB Global Bank Limited yesterday opened its Gunabati branch in Comilla. The banks chair, Nizam Chowdhury inaugurated the branchs operations as chief guest
Exim Bank recently has been awarded the ICMAB Best Corporate Award 2013 in the category of private commercial bank (Islamic operation) for its performance. The banks managing director, Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah received the award on Sunday from the Finance Minister AMA Muhit
IDLC Finance Limited was awarded the best corporate award in the non-banking financial institution sector at the Institution of Cost and Management Accounts of Bangladesh (ICMAB) award-ceremony held in Dhaka on Sunday. HM Ziaul Hoque Khan, the companys deputy managing director received the award from Finance Minister Abul Mal Abdul Muhith
Al-Arafah Islami Bank Limited has been awarded the ICMAB Best Corporate AWARD 2013 by the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) in the private commercial banks (Islamic operation) category. Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith is seen handing over the award to Md Habibur Rahman, the banks managing director
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited recently held its 14th annual general at the National Sports Council Auditorium in Dhaka. The banks chair Md Yousuf Ali Howlader presided over the programme
B4
n Saifur Rahman
According to Al Ries, author of Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind, a brand is a singular idea or concept that you own inside the mind of a prospect. Branding is a phenomenon that was popularised during the late 19th Century by soap bars sold in packaged units with a distinct logo. Since then, different brands have tried to attract their target group in many ways to win the battle of the mind of the consumers. But all this while, they had been ignoring a large segment of the global population the Muslims until recent times. They are now trying to understand the delicate needs of the growing Muslim population and design campaigns to comply with the Muslims and their religious principles (Shariah). A new race has begun among the global brands to capture the mindshare, heart share, and most importantly, the wallet share of the emerging Muslim consumer group. Ogilvy Noor, the Islamic Branding wing of world leading advertisement firm Ogilvy and Mather, defines Islamic branding as branding thats empathetic to Shariah values, in order to appeal to the Muslim consumer, ranging from basic Shariah-friendliness to full Shariah-compliance in all aspects of a brands identity, behavior, and communications. According to this firm, core Shariah values and its compliance resonate
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
KEY FACTS
with majority of the Muslims irrespective of their geographic location, age, gender, culture, or degree of religious practice. Shariah is not limited to fiqh (law) only, but also includes values such as honesty, respect, kindness, peacefulness, purity, discipline, modesty, unity, and dignity, which are an integral part of the Islamic faith. Although in recent years, China and India have captured the attention of the worlds marketers, a quiet but enormous business potential lies largely untapped in the global Muslim consumer market today, justifying a shift in focus to what is known as the 3rd one billion. Currently, Muslims make up almost one-fourth of the worlds population. The global Muslim market now stands at approximately $1.8bn and is projected to grow by
We have to understand that Muslim consumers have an alternative norm where the starting point is their Islamic identity, and everything else fits into it
about 35% in the next 20 years. The halal market alone is worth a staggering $2.1tn a year, which is greater than the entire GDP of India, Russia, Canada, or Australia respectively. Not surprisingly, marketers are rushing towards this group as it is increasing at $500bn each year due to the enormous growth
of the global Muslim population. Majority of the Muslim population is from the South and South East Asia (62%) region followed by the Middle East (20%) and sub-Saharan Africa region (15%). Most global enterprises, whether from the West or the East are starting to notice the N-11 countries (coined by Goldman Sachs investment bank) where 53% of the population are Muslim. Muslim population are some of the youngest in the world with more than 750 million under the age of 25, representing 43% of the global Muslim population, and 11% of the world. This population and economic growth have been accompanied by an Islamic
renaissance sowing its seed through the rise of new generation of young Muslim think tanks, business professionals, and entrepreneurs. Most of the marketers face two main challenges when it comes to addressing the Muslim consumers. First, most of the global brands operate on a geographic basis, but the Islamic conscience is something that is a more universal concept. The best way to capture this is to move from localised management to a universally focused product management function, to transfer the Islamic brand and its meaning into the core products. Second, Muslim consumers are not a seg-
ment that differs by one variable from the norm. We have to understand that Muslim consumers have an alternative norm where the starting point is their Islamic identity, and everything else fits into it. Muslims own believes in the significance of Islam in their lives are pervasive, and for them sincerity is the key in marketing practice of any company. l Saifur Rahman is the director of Business Development at LightCastle Partners, an emerging market specialised business planning and intelligence firm. The article was originally published in the LCP Blog. (lightcastlebd.com/blog)
An employee of the French Renault group in Morocco works on a production line at the Renault factory of Melloussa, near Tangier, on April
AFP
In general, euro zone economic sentiment is still defying the laws of economic gravity
Problems in many emerging countries after the end of a decade of cheap money, the continued slowdown of growth in China and, most recently, the uncertainly stemming from the Ukraine crisis will prevent economic growth in the euro zone from strengthening in the further course of the year, he said. We expect the economy to continue to grow at a rate of 0.25 per quarter in the coming quarters and anticipate a plus of 1% on average in 2014, he said.
DILBERT
Inflation
The Commission survey also showed that the indicator of consumers in-