13 oct, 2015

Expert: Expat, blogger murder claims had same sourcen Kamrul Hasan

The group that has claimed responsibility on-line for the murder of two expatriates recently also claimed responsibility for the slaying of several free-thinking bloggers earlier, an in-formation technology expert who assisted in the investigations yesterday said.

The IT expert said there was evidence the tweeters had received funds from the Middle East.

“Those trying to create anarchy in the country by killing bloggers are the same peo-ple as those claiming responsibility for killing foreigners,” said Tanvir Hassan Zoha, director of operations at Insight Bangladesh Founda-tion and focus person of the Cyber Nirapotta Programme under the Information and Com-munications Technology Division.

“They can call themselves IS, al-Qaeda, Ansarullah Bangla Team, Jamaat-Shibir or whatever, but they belong to the same group,” Tanvir said.

He said “electronic evidence” showed that the tweet claiming responsibility for the Tavella murder was uploaded from Dhaka’s Gulshan neighbourhood and that there was evidence that funds had been received from Saudi Arabia.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

SALINITY-PUSH MIGRATION ALARMING PAGE 32

ISLAMIC STATE PRIME SUSPECT IN ANKARA BLASTS PAGE 9

LIVE AND LET THE WORLD LIVE PAGE 5

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | Ashwin 28, 1422, Zilhaj 28, 1436 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 177 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Two American hydrogeologists are being escorted by police to an NGO o� ce in Rajshahi city yesterday afternoon. The foreigners, who are in Rajshahi to study the depleted water table in Barendra area, were seen out and about in the city with a tight security detail provided by Rajshahi police AZHAR UDDIN

Local govt polls to become partisann Shohel Mamun

Without any evaluation, research or discus-sion with stakeholders, the government has suddenly decided to change the law for local government elections to pave way for regis-tered political parties to nominate candidates.

When implemented, this change in the law would mean that candidates will be able to run with party symbols in elections to all local government bodies – union councils, upazila councils, district councils, municipal corpo-rations and city corporations.

The decision was made at the weekly meeting of the cabinet at the Secretariat yes-terday with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The Local Government Ministry has pro-posed bringing necessary amendments to the laws that govern the local body elections.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said: “The cabi-net thinks that this major shift from the old

non-partisan system will strengthen the lo-cal-level administration and also democracy.

“This decision is meant for empowering the local public representatives. It will also ensure progress for the country’s politics and democracy.”

Up until now, elections to local government bodies have been non-partisan, meaning that political parties cannot directly nominate candidates; they can only extend their sup-port to candidates of their choice. Contenders are also not allowed to use party symbols.

However, political backing or support has always played a key role in the outcomes of the local government elections, which are often seen as a measure of popularity for the political parties.

As was seen in the city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong earlier this year, opposition parties, especially the BNP, announced halfway through the voting day that they were withdrawing from the race, raising allegations of rigging by the candidates

backed by the ruling Awami League.In an immediate reaction to yesterday’s

cabinet decision, the BNP said making local body polls partisan will create chaos.

“We are opposing the decision … because the government has made the decision in a hurry without any discussions [with anyone] to serve its own interests,” said Asaduzzaman Ripon, a spokesperson of the BNP.

Cabinet Secretary Musharraf yesterday said that following the amendments to the laws, only candidates nominated by regis-tered political parties and independent can-didates, under the guidelines of the Election Commission, will be able to contest local gov-ernment polls with speci� ed party symbols for the posts of chairmen and members.

Four of the proposed amendments are: Local Government (Union Parishad) (Amend-ment) Act 2015; Upazila Parishad (Amend-ment) Act, 2015; Zila Parishad (Amend-ment) Act 2015; and Local Government (City

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

41 Birangonasget FreedomFighter statusn Syed Samiul Basher Anik

The government yesterday revealed a list of 41 war heroines, better known as Birangonas, who from now on will be living with the sta-tus of Freedom Fighters and be entitled to all the associated facilities and bene� ts.

These women, all of whom were raped during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 either by Pakistani soldiers or their local collaborators, have been demanding this state recognition for decades.

A gazette noti� cation was issued regarding the publication of the list on September 16, the Liberation War A� airs Ministry made the list public yesterday.

This list, however, will remain separate and will not be merged with the existing list of Freedom Fighters.

According to the ministry, around 200,000 women and girls were abused during the Liberation War, but independent sources put the number at 400,000. Estimates of the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee shows that around 468,000 women and girls were abused in 1971.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

41 Birangonas get Freedom Fighter statusOn January 29, the Jatiya Sangshad accepted a proposal through voice vote for giving the status to the Birangonas.

It follows a January 27, 2014 High Court ruling that asked the government to explain why the female victims of torture and abuse during the Liberation War of 1971 should not be recognised by the state.

Among the 41, the highest 13 are from Sir-ajganj district; 11 from Chapainawabganj, six from Thakurgaon, four each from Kushtia and Mymensingh, and one each from Rangpur, Sylhet and Habiganj districts.

“There is no one to look after my pover-ty-stricken family. I have fought for the na-tion, but have remained deprived of recogni-tion. I do not know why [that has happened]. Maybe it is my bad luck,” said Rahela Khatun, now a gazetted Birangona from Sirajganj.

There are a total of 22 locally recognised Birangonas in Sirajganj district. Among them, four have died, 13 have got recognition and � ve are waiting for their turn.

“I have been knocking at the doors of gov-ernment o� ces seeking recognition, but have always been rejected. But now I am happy that the government has � nally given us recognition, although it took 44 years,” said Surjo Begum, an-other gazetted Birangona from Sirajganj.

“The gazetted Birangonas will enjoy all government bene� ts that regular Freedom Fighters do with e� ect from July this year,” Liberation War A� airs Minister AKM Mozam-mel Haque told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

A Freedom Fighter gets honorarium, ration and medical services. They, their children and grandchildren enjoy reserved quotas in pub-lic recruitment and enrollment in educational

institutions.The monthly allowances for a free-

dom � ghter aged over 65 is Tk10,000. The war-wounded gazetted freedom � ghters also gets tax exemption for annual income of up to Tk4.25 lakh.

The minister also said that the list will be updated gradually in future; around 500 ap-plications are currently going through the in-

quiry and scrutiny stages.This list has been prepared on the basis

of names and information collected by the upazila executive o� cers and approved and veri� ed by the national freedom � ghters’ council (Jatio Muktijuddha Council).

Generally, an upazila executive o� cer leads the data collection – if she is a female person – in association with three other fe-

male o� cials from upazila administration. In upazilas where the executive o� cer is not a female person, the woman who holds the highest post in that area’s administration leads the e� ort.

They do a primary scrutiny of the appli-cations � led by the Birangonas, but the � nal veri� cation is done by the freedom � ghters’ council who use its local commands to collect more information on the applicants.

“All the Birangonas will be recognised in due course of time. We have received a total of 124 applications, among which, 80 were recommended to the ministry for providing with freedom � ghter status,” Jatio Muktijud-dha Council Director General Mahfuzar Rah-man Sarker told the Dhaka Tribune.

MA Hasan, convener of the War Crimes Fact Finding Committee, hailed the initia-tive, but said it should not be limited to giving them recognition only as trauma, councelling, and rehabilitation are also equally important.

“The process is very complex as a large number of war heroines were raped and killed during the Liberation War.

“In addition, many Hindu victims went to India during the war and have never come back. Moreover, many victims from upper, middle and lower class families do not want to disclose their identities because of social taboo,” he said.

Minister Mozammel Haque said: “We are in a discomfort as many of them do not want to publish their names due to social reasons.

“However, the list will be updated regular-ly and their names will be published 30 years later so that they do not have to deal with so-cial taboo,” the minister said. l

MYMENSINGH1 Moymuna Khatun2 Halima Khatun3 Zahera Khatun4 Fatema Khatun

HOBIGANJ5 Majed Begum (alias

Majeda Khatun)SYLHET

6 Eshnu BegumKushtia

7 Elejan Nesa8 Momena Khatun9 Doljan Nesa10 Mojiron Nesa

RANGPUR11 Monsura Begum

THAKURGAON12 Sumi Bashugi13 Maleka14 Moni Kisku15 Niharani Das16 Nurjahan Begum17 Hafeza BegumCHAPAINAWABGANJ

18 Rabiya Begum19 Maleka Begum20 Hasina Begum21 Jolo Begum22 Sofeda Begum23 Ayesha Begum24 Renu Begum25 Hajera Begum26 Arbi Begum

27 Rahela Begum28 Lili Begum

SIRAJGANJ29 Aymona30 Asiya Begum31 Surjo Begum32 Komola Bewa33 Joygon34 Suraiya Khatun35 Mahela Begum36 Hamida Bewa37 Hasna Begum38 Srimoti Rajubala Dey39 Rohima Bewa40 Chamena Khatun41 Shamsunnahar Bewa

LIST OF WAR HEROINES RECOGNISED AS FREEDOM FIGHTERS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015NEWS4DT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

Local govt pollsCorporation) (Amendment) Act 2015.

All these proposals were given the � nal ap-proval by the cabinet subject to the vetting by the Law Ministry.

However, the cabinet has decided that the � fth proposal – Local Government (Pourasava) Amendment Act, 2015 – will be prepared as a draft ordinance. The pourasava or municipal-ity elections are likely to be held in December but parliament does not have a session before that and so it cannot be turned into a law.

The rest of the four amendment propos-als will be placed in the next session of Jatiya Sangsad and would come into a� ect the next time elections are held to the relevant local government bodies.

“Following the passage of the bills, the lo-cal body elections will be held like national elections,” the cabinet secretary said.

He also said that the government would try to arrange regular elections to the local gov-ernment bodies. “In case there is any prob-lems or abnormalities, the government will appoint an administrator for interim periods.”

When contacted, local government expert To� ayel Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune: “Lo-cal government elections should be partisan just like in India.

“But Bangladesh has yet to reach that situ-ation because ruling parties have always used its power and the law enforcement agencies have not worked smoothly either.”

Former election commissioner Sohul Hos-sain said: “It is true that political parties in� u-ence the local government polls.

“However, people, especially social work-ers in the rural areas, might not be interested anymore in participating in these elections under the proposed new system.” l

Expert: Expat, blogger murder claims had same sourceDB Investigators disagree with Tanvir’s claims.

They said they had not found any evidence linking the blogger murders to the foreigner murders and said the two types of incidents were completely di� erent.

Cyber Nirapotta Programme Deputy Pro-gramme Director Mohammad Anwar Hossain said: “Tanvir worked on the programme until June 1, and helped the Detective Branch with their work with special permission.”

Tavella murderThe DB’s cybercrime cell investigating the murders said the tweets claiming responsibil-ity for the murders were tweeted from Dhaka and Rangpur, respectively.

Investigators yesterday said they had put at least four people, including the person who might have tweeted the IS claim link after the Tavella murder, under surveillance.

A DB source said 20 people had earlier been put under surveillance and three people, the likely murder suspects in the Tavella murder case, had been tracked down.

DB sources said they had found the person, identi� ed only by the surname “Rakib,” who issued the Dhaka tweet. Police have not yet determined whether he is connected to a mil-itant group. DB does not yet have information on the Rangpur tweeter.

Police yesterday said they had made a breakthrough in the case but declined to re-mark further about the development.

The DB source said ballistic reports and other evidence will be used to determine whether those under surveillance were in-volved in the murders.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Detec-

tive Branch (DB) Additional Deputy Commis-sioner Mahfuzul Islam said: “We have made some breakthroughs in the case and are work-ing to ascertain that everything is going in the right direction.”

He declined to comment further.

IS claimsThe DB source said investigators had contact-ed Rita Katz, director and co-founder of SITE Intelligence Group, about the IS claims the group had publicised.

The DB source said Katz did not provide information about where she had found IS’ claims of responsibility. She told them she received the information through separate tweets issued the day the foreigners were murdered.

Katz told the DB that on September 28, a tweet was seen around 1:30pm US Eastern Standard Time and published on the SITE website within half an hour.

On October 3, around 11:30pm she saw a similar tweet claiming responsibility for the murder of a Japanese citizen and published it on the SITE website. She, however, declined to provide further information.

On October 9, Rita Katz tweeted: “My advice to security agencies in #Bangladesh is not to dismiss these claims or deny the presence of #ISIS followers in their country.

“What’s happening in Bangladesh, like other countries, is the e� ect of ISIS’ highly ef-fective propaganda and outward growth.

“These things considered, are #ISIS ’ claims that surprising? Is #Bangladesh some-how immune to what countries all over the world aren’t?”

Hoshi murderIn the Hoshi case, police detained ten people and showed two of them arrested in the case. Two are in jail and the other is in remand. Four detainees have been let go and three others remain in police custody.

A three-member Japanese team that went to Rangpur to assist the probe returned to Dhaka yesterday. Another two-member team left yesterday for Rangpur.

Japanese citizen, Hoshi Kunio, 65, was shot dead by three unidenti� ed assailants on October 3. Italian citizen Cesare Tavella, 51, was shot by three unidenti� ed assailants on September 28 and died on the way to United Hospital in Gulshan.

From February this year, four bloggers have been killed in Bangladesh.

On August 7, blogger Niladri Niloy was killed at his residence in Khilgaon. His mur-der occurred two months after blogger and writer Ananta Bijoy Das was hacked to death in Sylhet on May 12. Secular activist Oyasiqur Rahman Babu was hacked to death in the cap-ital on March 30.

On February 26, blogger and former Buet teacher Avijit Roy was killed at the Ekushey Book Fair. His wife Ra� da Ahmed Bonya sus-tained injuries during the attack.

Earlier, Rajshahi University teacher Prof AKM Sha� ul Islam was killed on November 15 last year. Da� odil University student and secular activist Ashraful Alam was killed on September 30 last year while war crimes trial campaigner Ahmed Rajeeb Haider was mur-dered on February 15, 2013.

Secular writer Asif Mohiuddin was attacked on January 13, 2013 and Rakib Mamun on June 24, 2014. They narrowly escaped death. l

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

‘Live and let the world live’n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

from Ankara, Turkey

The UN summit on deserti� cation yesterday called upon the world’s nations to make the planet habitable for everybody and enable the planet itself to live and thrive.

The 12th Conference of Parties (COP 12) of the United Nations Convention to Combat De-serti� cation (UNCCD) began yesterday in An-kara as the Turkish capital emerged from the shock of twin bomb blasts on Saturday that left 86 people dead.

As the conference opened, participants from the across the globe expressed their shock and condemnation of the bombing.

Professor Dr Veysel Eroglu, Turkey’s minister of forestry and water a� airs, presided over COP 12 in keeping with a tradition that the host coun-

try usually holds the UNCCD COP presidency.“Live and let the world live. Our lives and

civilisation depend on the soil,” Eroglu said. “It is not just an environmental issue … but threatens food security, water scarcity, forced migration and so on.”

“Combating deserti� cation requires con-centrated e� ort – national and regional ef-fort,” Eroglu said.

Soil degradation, global warming, climate change, deserti� cation and drought are global challenges that directly a� ect 1.5 billion peo-ple and almost 4 billion hectares of land in more than 110 countries.

Speakers said combating deserti� cation was necessary to achieve the Sustainable De-velopment Goals (SDGs).

Food security, water security, the responsi-ble stewardship of resources, responsible pro-

duction and consumption patterns, inclusive and sustainable growth, poverty eradication and climate change resilience are among the major SDGs.

Special Adviser to the President of France Nicolas Hulot, speaking as special guest, said 2015 was a crucial year for mankind. “Combat-ing deserti� cation cannot be de-linked from combating climate change … We are talking about over two billion individuals. Solidarity is not an option but a prerequisite. We cannot just con� ne ourselves to intentions, we have to act.”

Eroglu said Turkey is ready to support the implementation of the Ankara Initiative. “We are currently supporting a number of coun-tries in preventing land degradation. The An-kara Initiative will be adopted at COP 12.”

He said: “Let us all work together to achieve targets [to neutralise soil degradation].” l

103 Bangladeshi tra� cking victims rescued by Myanmar authorities return homen Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar

At least 103 Bangladeshi tra� cking victims, who were rescued by Myanmar authorities in June, have been brought back home.

The Myanmar authorities handed the tra� c victims over to Border Guard Bangla-desh (BGB) around 1pm yesterday, following a � ag meeting between the two countries at 10:30am, sources told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Bangladesh side at the meeting, which took place at Tumbru town administration of-� ce in Myanmar, was a 10-member delegation led by acting commanding o� cer of 17 BGB

Battalion, Major Imran Ullah, while the My-anmar side was led by Yu Chaw Naing, deputy director of the country’s Immigration and Na-tional Registration Department.

Talking to reporters following the four-hour meeting, Major Imran said the identities of the tra� c victims had been veri� ed before they were brought home, where they were handed over to Cox’s Bazar police for further veri� cation.

The police took them to Cox’s Bazar Cul-tural Centre, from where everyone will be taken to his or her home by the Red Crescent Society and the International Organisation of

Migration on completion of all legal formali-ties, said Shyamal Kumar Nath, superinten-dent of police in Cox’s Bazar.

At least 208 Bangladeshis were found � oat-ing in the sea by Myanmar Navy on May 21, while they rescued 727 more Bangladeshis on May 29. These � oating migrants, seek-ing better fortune in another country, had fallen prey to human tra� ckers who aban-doned them inside the maritime border ofMyanmar.

Among them, at least 581 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Myanmar in � ve phases before yesterday. l

Five JMB men held for murder attempt on Pabna priestn Our Correspondent, Pabna

The police have arrested � ve suspected JMB members for their alleged involvement with the recent murder attempt on a church priest in Pabna.

Police said detained JMB members had already admitted to trying to kill 52-year-old priest Luke Sarker in an attempt to destabilise the country and create international pressure on the government.

Alamgir Kabir, superintendent of police for Pabna, told a press conference at his of-� ce yesterday that the � ve men were arrest-ed during separate drives in Pabna, Sirajganj and Dhaka. A joint team of the district police and the LIC branch of the Police Headquarters made the arrests.

The arrestees are: Rakibul Islam Rabbi, 22; Ziaur Rahman, 35; Shariful Islam alias Tulip, 22; Abdul Alim, 36; and Amzad Hossain, 30. Among them, Rabbi is said to have been one of the three assailants who physically tried to kill the priest.

On October 5, three men attempted to kill Luke Sarker by slitting his throat; they � ed af-ter the priest shouted for help.

Quoting Rabbi, the Pabna SP said the JMB had been trying to revive its operations in the district for the past one and a half years un-der the leadership of its regional commander Rakibul Islam.

They met thrice a month to come up with plans to destabilise the country. As part of their scheme, the banned militant organisa-tion targeted Luke Sarker.

On September 18, Rakib and Rabbi met the priest pretending to learn about Christianity. Later on October 5, they went to Luke Sarker’s house again with an intent to kill, accompa-nied by another accomplice named Shakil.

While they were having a conversation with Luke, Rakib and Rabbi reportedly grabbed the priest and Shakil put a knife to his throat. But they released Luke after the priest bit one of the attacker’s arm. When the priest shouted for help, the assailants � ed.

Pabna SP Alamgir Kabir said the arrestees said they used to be involved with Jamaat and Shibir before being recruited for the JMB.

He said a case was � led with the Pabna Sa-dar police station, while e� orts were on to ap-prehend fugitive suspects Rakib and Shakil. l

HC orders MP Liton to surrender in Gaibandhan Tribune Report

The High Court has ordered Awami League lawmaker Manjurul Islam Liton to surrender before a Gaibandha court by October 18 in a case � led against him for shooting a boy.

A bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Bhishmadev Chakraborty passed the order after hearing a bail petition � led by the accused, which the bench rejected, the UNB reports. They ordered him to surrender to Gaibandha Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.

Earlier in the morning, the High Court had ordered the ruling party MP to surrender be-fore it by 1pm yesterday.

He appeared before the court around 12:50pm following the court order.

Liton, member of parliament from Gaib-andha-1 constituency, � led a petition with the High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the case on Sunday.

Earlier, an eight-year-old boy named Sourav, from Gopalcharan village in Rangpur’s Sundarganj upazila, was injured with stray bullets allegedly � red by Liton on October 2.

The boy, who received two bullets in his legs, was rushed to Sundarganj Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

A case was � led on the same day accusing

Liton of attempted murder. Liton went into hiding as soon as the case was � led.

On October 8, another case was � led against

Liton on charge of vandalism and looting.In addition, Liton’s licences for two � rearms

were revoked for “the sake of public safety.” l

Awami League leader and Gaibandha 1 lawmaker Manjurul Islam Liton leaves the High Court yesterday after the hearing of his bail petition. The court rejected his bail plea in a case � led against him for shooting an eight-year-old boy DHAKA TRIBUNE

Starting age of n ursing career relaxedn Shohel Mamun

The government has decided to increase the entry age of senior and sta� nurses to the state-run hospitals and the healthcare centres across the country.

The decision came from a regular cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the Secretariat yesterday, said Cabi-net Secretary Musharraf Hussain.

He said the new entry age for the nurses is now 36 and the benchmark would be in force by December 31, 2018.

Musharraf Hussain went on that there are 3,728 posts vacant in the profession and the government has decided to appoint 10,000 nurses more soon. l

NEWS 5D

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Two new public universities on the cardn Shohel Mamun

The cabinet yesterday approved the drafts of two acts in a view to establishing two more public universities in the country.

The acts are Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University Act 2015 and Ra-bindra Bishwabidyalay Act 2015.

The decision came from the regular cabi-net meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hais-na in the chair.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Dig-ital University will be a specialised public uni-versity in Gazipur on information and commu-nication technology with the main objective to expedite the pace of development through qualitative improvement of IT education in the country, said Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan after the meeting.

Rabindra Bishwabidyalay will be estab-lished as a public university at Shahzadpur in Sirajganj district which will provide educa-

tion on literature, music, drama, dance, � ne arts, social science, agriculture, cooperatives, zoology and technological studies side by side with conducting research and practice on Rabindranath.

The administrative structure of the univer-sity would be like other public universities.

However, the cabinet has given a new rec-ommendation to include four Rabindra experts in its senate who teach and conduct research on Rabindranath, the cabinet secretary said. l

18 BNP leaders face arrest warrants in blast case � led under explosives actn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court has issued warrants for the ar-rest of 18 leaders of the BNP-led alliance, in-cluding BNP Joint Secretary General Barkat-ullah Bulu, in a case � led under the explosive substances act.

Metropolitan Sessions Court Judge Md Kamrul Hossain Molla issued the arrest war-rants yesterday after accepting the charges levelled against 18 BNP and Jamaat-Shibir leaders in a case.

The court issued the arrest warrant as they

did not appear before the court during yester-day’s hearing in the case.

The court also directed the o� cer-in-charge of Airport police station to submit re-ports on the execution of arrest warrants by January 11, 2016.

The other leaders now facing arrest in-clude: BNP chairperson’s Press Secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel, Khaleda Zia’s Spe-cial Assistant advocate Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas, former Chhatra Dal president Azizul Bari Helal, Swechchhasebak Dal Presi-dent Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, and former

Chhatra Dal president Sultan Salauddin Tuku.A total of 21 leaders of the alliance, includ-

ing Amanullah Aman, Ka� l Uddin and Yasin Ali, are currently out on bail in the case.

On July 22, Airport police station Sub-In-spector Md Saiful Islam, also investigation of-� cer of the case, submitted the charge sheet against the 21 accused.

According to charge sheet, on February 18, miscreants set ablaze an autorickshaw and injured its driver Md Faruq near the Dhaka airport intersection during a countrywide blockade by the alliance. l

DU BCL unit places 17-point demandn Arif Ahmed

Chhatra League’s Dhaka University unit yesterday placed a 17-point demand concerning student welfare to the university authorities.

Abid Al Hasan, president of the unit, placed the demands at a press conference at Madhur Canteen on the campus.

The demands include providing quality and nutritious food in dormitories, making the education system more modern by adding latest technologies in classrooms and laboratories, distributing low-cost laptops

among students who are poor but brilliant, bringing the university campus as well as the dormitories under Wi-Fi network, modernising the central library and also the libraries at the halls of residence by adding latest books as well as using technology.

Some of the other demands are ensuring transport facilities for all pupils, healthcare facilities with round-the-clock medical support, setting up more research centres, providing necessary information for students seeking scholarships, constructing risk-resistant dormitories, providing scholarships for disadvantaged students, ensuring that

the campus is free from drug abuse and establishing an anti-eve teasing cell.

Among others, Chhatra League President Saifur Rahman Sohag, General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain and Dhaka University unit’s Ggeneral Secretary Motahar Hossain Prince were present at the press brie� ng.

Chhatra League leaders later submitted a memorandum containing the demands to Professor AAMS Are� n Siddique, vice-chancellor of the university.

The vice-chancellor thanked Chhatra League leaders for the memorandum and assured them of satisfying their demands. l

Khulna Jamaat leader dies 15 days after arrestn Our Correspondent, Khulna

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Khulna died on Sunday, 15 days after he was arrested in a sub-version case.

Akramuzzaman Raja Mia was the ameer of Jamaat’s Labanchara thana unit and hailed from Faridpur’s Alfadanga upazila.

The 62-year-old was taken to Khulna Med-ical College Hospital from Khulna district jail after he fell ill at night.

Quamrul Islam, Khulna district jail super, said doctors pronounced Akramuzzaman dead around 9pm.

Labanchara police station O� cer-in-Charge Sarder Mosharraf Hossain said the Jamaat leader was arrested on September 26 in a case � led for attempting to carry out sub-versive acts.

“The accused was ordered to be sent to jail after police produced him in court,” he said. l

Seven killed as truck plunges into roadside ditch in Ctgn FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

At least seven people were killed and three others injured when a truck carrying sacks of rice plunged into a roadside ditch on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway at Jorarganj area in Mirsarai upazila of Chittagong yesterday morning.

The dead – Kalam Mia, 45, Rubel, 25, Saidur Rahman, 40, Tipu, 45, Monir Uddin, 45, Md Alam, 30, and Azad, 25 – were day labourers, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Farid Uddin, In-Charge (IC) of Jorarganj Highway police outpost. Of them, � ve were from Naogaon and one was from Bagura, while the injured man could not be identi� ed immediately, said the SI.

SI Farid Uddin also told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Chittagong-bound rice-laden truck, coming from Naogaon, plunged into a road-side ditch at Dakkhin Sonapahar area of Jorar-ganj around 5am, after the driver lost control over the steering wheel, killing on the spot the seven men who were sitting on the rice sacks.”

On information, police rushed to the scene and recovered the dead bodies and truck, while its driver and helper managed to escape after the incident, SI Farid added.

A case was � led in this connection. l

Defence expert made UK envoy to Bangladeshn Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Defence and con� ict expert Alison Blake has been appointed as new British High Commissioner to Bangladesh.

She will replace Robert Gibson, who has been working in

Bangladesh for the last four years, said a press release of the British Foreign Ministry.

In her career of 26 years, Alison has worked in defence related departments for about 13 years.

She joined the civil service in 1989 and her � rst assignment was in the Ministry of Defence.

Her assignments included assistant private secretary to secretary of state for defence.

She joined British foreign service in 1996 and immediately she was assigned to Nato, an in-tergovernmental military alliance whose head-quarters is located in Brussels.

After her return to the Foreign Ministry, she became deputy head of the Eastern Adri-atic Department. She joined British mission in Washington as � rst secretary and worked there from 2001 to 2005.

After her return, she worked in the cabinet o� ce as deputy director, defence and over-seas secretariat from 2006 to 2007.

She became the head of Con� ict Group at the Foreign Ministry in 2007 and worked there till 2010.

In 2011, she became deputy high commis-sioner to Pakistan.

Blake is scheduled to assume her duty in January next year. l

Despite heavy rain, protesting students continue their demonstration in front of the Central Shaheed Minar yesterday demanding fresh medical and dental college admission tests MEHEDI HASAN

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015NEWS 7

DT

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 5:35PM SUN RISES 5:55AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.6ºC 21.6ºC

Chandpur Bogra

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

F O R E C A S T F O R T O D A YDhaka 31 22Chittagong 30 24Rajshahi 31 22Rangpur 31 21Khulna 29 22Barisal 29 23Sylhet 30 20Cox’s Bazar 28 25

PRAYER TIMESFajr 4:38am

Sunrise 5:54amZohr 11:45am

Asr 3:57pmMagrib 5:35pm

Esha 7:05pm

WEATHER

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

Dhaka mayors attendprogramme on city management in USn Tribune Report

Mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation An-nisul Huq and Mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation Mohammad Sayeed Khokon at-tended a programe over city management in Washington DC on Sunday.

The US Department of State and Bloomb-erg Philanthropies sponsored the programme entitled “Our Cities; Our Climate”.

The programe highlights on city leaders ac-tion on climate change, best practice on tran-sitioning a renewable energy supply system, improving energy e� ciency in existing build-ings and creating net zero energy standards for new buildings, shifting transportation sys-tems to prioritize biking, walking and public transportation and diverting 100% of waste streams, says a press release.

The Dhaka mayors also met with Clinton Brown of the Bureau of South and Central Asian A� airs at the US Department of State to discuss the goals for Dhaka and Bangladesh. l

Chittagong police assure of tight security during Durga Pujan FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

Police in Chittagong say tight security meas-ures will be put in place across the city during Durga Puja, the largest festival of the Hindus which is just a few days away.

They estimate that the festival will be cel-ebrated at 1,503 puja mandaps, places where devotees will worship, in the district and there will be � awless security in each of those.

“The o� cers-in-charge of the respective po-lice stations have been directed to be vigilant so that no untoward situation arises at any of the mandaps,” Naimul Hasan, additional superin-tendent of police, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Police will set up a three-tier security sys-tem to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully and without any disruptions.

“Also, power station o� cials have been asked to provide uninterrupted power sup-ply at the mandaps,” he said, adding that ad-ditional police forces would be deployed at mandaps where disorder was feared.

According to Bangladesh Puja Udjapon Parishad’s Chittagong city chapter, some 298 puja mandaps have been set up in the metro-politan area. Its General Secretary Ratnakar Das Tunu told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that preparations had been taken to celebrate the festival in a peaceful atmosphere.

“This year, a total of 1,960 mandaps have been set up in the whole Chittagong district. Of the 298 mandaps in the metropolitan area, a few in Bakalia, Akbar Shah and Bayezid ar-eas are vulnerable as they are located in the city’s borderline,” he said.

“But police have assured us of complete security at those mandaps while volunteers will team up with law enforcement o� cials to ensure that no unwanted situation arises while we celebrate the annual festival.”

Durga Puja will begin in full swing from Octo-ber 19 as per the Hindu community’s calendar.

Meanwhile, artisans making idols of Hindu goddesses in di� erent parts of the port city said 80% of the work had been done. l

Ivy: Conspiracy cannot stop city’s dev n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj

Dr Selina Hayat Ivy, mayor of Narayanganj city, has said no conspiracy can be success against her while she was working for the people.

She came up with the remark yesterday in an inauguration function of a road in Bandar upazila of the district.

Among others councilor Rezwna Haque

Sumi, Hannan Sarker, Amin Panchaet pres-ident Abdus Salam and its secretary Shahja-han spoke the function. Sultan Ahmed presid-ed over the inauguration programme.

Defending herself against a corruption case, Ivy says that she is not involved with the incident.

She said a section of politicians in the district looted Tk103 crore of govt fund and they had

polluted the political environment of the city.She added that those politicians brought

the corruption case against her to hamper the development work.

Narayanganj-4 lawmaker AKM Shamim Osman slated city corporation mayor for her alleged involvement in corruption while ad-dressing a rally organised by civil society of Narayanganj in September. l

City residents vulnerable to threat of denguen Abu Hayat Mahmud

With the lengthy monsoon this year, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) have not been able to bring the capital’s mosquito problem completely under control, leaving residents vulnerable to the threat of dengue and ma-laria.

According to data updated yesterday by the Control Room of the Directorate General for Health Services (DGHS), 2,322 patients had been infected with dengue in the capital so far this year.

Despite Tk14 crore allocated by the DNCC and Tk12 crore earmarked by the DSCC for mosquito control in FY2015-16, residents complained that the two city corporations had not done enough to tackle the public health menace.

The DGHS data seems to suggest that den-gue infections had spiked in September but was declining in October, but recorded infec-tions in 2015 were clearly higher than in pre-vious years.

A resident of Lalbagh, who asked not to be named, said: “For several years there were no ward councillors so the job was not done properly. But this year there are councillors … what are they doing?”

“City corporation sta� sprayed insecti-cides in the area over a month ago. But I have not seen them spraying the city recently,”

she said, describing the mosquito problem as “unbearable.”

According to the two city corporations, the Health Department is responsible for pest control. Their responsibilities include locat-ing mosquito breeding grounds, destroying larva and spraying larvicides in the morning and adulticides in the evening.

They are also supposed to drain ponds and

marshes, locate dengue patients from hospi-tal records and destroy breeding grounds near their homes.

Sabbir Ahmed, a resident of Rupnagar in Mirpur said: “The number of mosquitoes seems to have risen over the last two months, but I do not see an aggressive response.”

He said this year the rainy season was longer than in previous years so the authorities should

take extra care to tackle mosquito breeding.City o� cials of both corporations denied

allegations that their pest control e� orts had been lax, saying mosquito control drives were routinely conducted during the breeding sea-son, which begins in October and continues until January.

They said two types of pesticides – lar-vicides and adulticides – are used to control mosquitoes.

Larvicides are applied between 8am and 11am to halt the growth of mosquito larvae while adulticides are sprayed between 5pm and 7pm to exterminate adult mosquitoes, the o� cials said.

When contacted, DNCC Chief Health Of-� cer Brig Gen AKM Masood Ahsan told the Dhaka Tribune that steps, including the Crush Programme, have been implemented.

“We have seen news reports of the increase in dengue infections and have directed our zonal o� ces to spray insecticides in every part of the city,” he said.

DSCC Chief Health O� cer Brig Gen Md Mahbubur Rahman said: “We have started the Crush Programme and hope that the mosqui-to population will be eliminated very rapidly.”

Residents have complained of a rise in mosquitoes in the Mirpur, Kalyanpur, Old Dhaka, Tejkunipara, Jatrabari, Dholaikhal, Shanir Ankhra, Kamrangirchar, Hazaribagh, Badda, Rampura, Moghbazar, Mohakhali and Kamalapur areas of the capital. l


Schoolgirl killed after rapen Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A schoolgirl was allegedly raped and then strangulated to death at Nayanipara under Pubail in Gazipur city yesterday.

The victim was Shantona Robi Das,10, a student of class three at Pubail Government Primary School and daughter of Niranjan Robi Das in Sapmara area.

Sources said Shantona had been missing since morning. Later, her body was found in a bush in the area.

On information, police recovered the body and it to Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College morgue.

Khandaker Rezaul Hasan Reza, o� cer-in-charge of Joydebpur police station, said the miscreants might have killed the girl after rape. l

Boroitola mass killing day today in Kishoreganjn Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

People of Kishoreganj, including di� erent so-cio-political organisations, freedom � ghters and martyred families will observe Boroitola Mass Killing Day recalling the barbaric act of the Pakistan occupation forces.

On October 13, 1971, at least 365 innocent people of Bhubirchar, Gobindapur, Tilaknath-pur, Karial, Kalikabari, Shehora, Dampara and Chiknirchar villages of Jashudal union in Sa-dar upazila were tortured to death by Pakistan army and their collaborators.

The Pakistani hyenas put the innocent people in several rows near the rail line at Boroitala (present name Shahid Nagar) in

Jashudal union and killed them following a rumour by the local razakers that the villagers killed two army men.

Later, the hyenas buried some of the mar-tyrs in a mass grave in the area and threw many bodies into the Narsunda River. Then, the occupation forces torched and looted hundreds of houses of the locality.

Boroitola was renamed as Shahid Nagar af-ter independence and a memorial of martyrs was built on the spot.

The day’s programme will begin with plac-ing of wreaths at the memorial where a dis-cussion will be held.

Every year, thousands of people throng the memorial place to remember martyrs. l

RMG worker killed in road accident, highway blockedn Our Correspondent, Savar

Garment workers blocked the Abdullapur-By-pal Highway for more than three hours yester-day morning after one of their fellow workers was killed in a road accident at Jamgara in Ashulia.

According to sources, Fulbanu,35, a worker of Plaukhing Garments Industry Ltd of Palmal Group died on the spot while a passenger bus of Grameen Sheba ran over her on the high-way in the area.

Later, on information, more than 7,000 workers of the industry rushed to the spot and blocked the highway protesting the killing.

The agitated workers also vandalised more than 12 vehicles during the blockade, said Mo-sta� zur Rahman, director of industrial police in Ashulia. l

Locals stand against UP chairman’s graftn Our Correspondent, Joypurhat

The locals and all 12 members of Borail union parishad in Khetlal upazila have taken to the streets against the chairman protesting his reported corruptions and demanded his re-moval.

Besides, allegations of nepotism and gob-bling public money were also raised against Borail UP Chairman Ashraf Ali Mandol and the UP members along with the a� ected lo-cals held a human chain in the upazila town yesterday noon seeking his removal.

Earlier, the protesters as a procession pa-raded the thoroughfares of the town and it � nally ended on the upazila administration premises.

The UP members addressed the event in

line with other speakers, one of whom named Abu Bakkar Siddidqe said the chairman is yet to start village court despite to have passed two years after taking the onus and even he did not cast a look on the recorded complains of locals.

Another member namely Keramat Ali said the chairman had gobbled public money of Tk98,355 showing two fake purchase vouch-ers during the � scal year of 2013-14.

UP member Moza� ar Hossain alleged that he has been setting a drainage system in his business spot with the parishad’s money.

As sequel to the allegations, the UP mem-bers meanwhile adopted a no-con� dence res-olution against the chairman and sent it to the local deputy commissioner as well.

Elderly labourer named Abdul Aziz who

took part in the human chain said he bribed the chairman with Tk3000 to ensure the old age allowance and later he compelled to reg-ister a complaint with the local police station in this regard as he � nally was deprived from the bene� t.

Some others, namely Manwara Bibi and Kamela Bibi, who also participated in the event echoed the voice of Aziz.

Afterwards, the protesters placed a mem-orandum to Khetlal upazila nirbahi o� cer and the upazila chairman in favour of their demands.

When asked, Borail UP Chairman Ashraf Ali Mandol denied the allegations hurled against him by his colleagues and termed the ongoing protest a plot of his rivals to harm his political career. l

Students of Barguna Silpa Kola Academy yesterday performed a programme arranged on the occasion of the International Day for Girl Child DHAKA TRIBUNE

Awami League panel sweeps over JU senate polls n JU Correspondent

The Awami League-backed teachers swept over the polls of teachers’ representatives in JU senate.

Awami League teachers’ panel ‘Bangab-andhur Adarsha O Muktijuddher Chetonay Biswasi Progotishil Shikkhak Samaj’ bagged 25 out of 33 posts of teachers’ representative of university’s senate, university sources said.

The pro-Bangladesh Nationalist Par-ty, left-leaning and a section of pro-Awami League teachers’ combined panel ‘Shammili-ta Shikkhak Samaj won eight seats in the elec-tion while a total of some 476 teachers out of 495 teachers in the university casted their votes in the election held on Sunday, source said.

University sources said the vote casting began around 9am at JU Teachers’ Club and continued till 2pm.

JU registrar Abu Bakr Siddique who was returning o� cer of the polls declared the re-sults around 11:30pm. l

Housewife hacked to deathn Our Correspondent, Noakhali

A housewife was allegedly hacked to death at Darafpur village under Begumganj upazi-la yesterday. The victim was Sheuli Akter, 28, wife Abbas Uddin of the village.

Hasan, brother-in-law of Sheuli, went to her room in the morning and hacked her to death over family feud while Abbas went to his work out side of home.

Later, locals caught Hasan red handed and informed police.

Golam Farooq, o� cer-in-charge of Begum-ganj Model police station con� rmed the inci-dent.

The body was sent to Noakhali General Hospital for autopsy, he said. A case was � led with the police station in this connection. l

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015WORLD 9

DT

‘IS prime suspect in Ankara blasts’ n Agencies

Turkey’s government said on Monday Islamic State was the prime suspect in suicide bomb-ings that killed at least 97 people in Ankara, but opponents vented anger at President Tayyip Er-dogan at funerals, universities and courthouses.

Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Saturday’s bombing, the worst of its kind on Turkish soil, was intended to in� uence the outcome of November polls Erdogan hopes will restore the AK party he founded to an overall parliamentary majority. There is no question of postponing the vote, o� cials have said.

“It was de� nitely a suicide bombing,” Davutoglu said in an interview broadcast live on Turkey’s NTV. “DNA tests are being con-ducted. It was determined how the suicide bombers got there. We’re close to a name, which points to one group.”

Merkel to visit TurkeyGermany’s Angela Merkel will visit Turkey Sunday to discuss terrorism, the war in Syria and the refugee crisis, her spokesman said.

The German chancellor would meet Pres-ident Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Min-

ister Ahmet Davutoglu for talks on “the joint battle against terrorism, the situation in Syria and managing the refugee crisis,” said Ste� en Seibert on Monday.

Thousands rally against Erdogan Opponents of Erdogan, who has led the coun-try over 13 years, blame him for the attack on a rally organised by pro-Kurdish activists and civic groups, accusing the state at best of intelligence failings and at worst of com-plicity by stirring up nationalist, anti-Kurdish sentiment.

The government, facing a growing Kurdish con� ict at home and the spillover of war in Syria, vehemently denies such accusations.

Hundreds chanting anti-government slo-gans marched on a mosque in an Istanbul suburb for the funeral of several of the vic-tims, attended by Selahattin Demirtas, leader of the pro-Kurdish parliamentary opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), which says it was the target of the bombings.

Riot police with water cannon and ar-moured vehicles stood by as the crowd, some chanting “Thief, Murderer Erdogan” and waving HDP � ags, moved towards the mosque in the working class Umraniye neigh-

bourhood of Istanbul.Several labour unions also called protests.

Hundreds of people, many wearing doctors’ uniforms and carrying Turkish Medical Asso-ciation banners, gathered by the main train station in Ankara where the explosions hap-pened to lay red carnations but were blocked by riot police.

Syria spilloverThe HDP has put the death toll from the bombings at 128 and said it had identi� ed all but eight of the bodies. Davutoglu’s o� ce has said 97 people were killed.

The bombs struck seconds apart as hun-dreds gathered for a march organised by pro-Kurdish activists and civic groups to pro-test over a growing con� ict between Turkish security forces and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the southeast.

Turkey is vulnerable to in� ltration by Is-lamic State, which holds swathes of Syrian land abutting Turkey where some two million refugees live. But the group, not normally reticent about its attacks, made no claim to a similar bombing in the town of Suruc in July attributed to it; nor has it made any reference to the Ankara attack in internet postings. l

Syrian army advances with help of Russian strikes; Putin reaches out to Saudisn Reuters, Sochi, Russia/Amman

Russian warplanes pounded Syrian rebels un-a� liated with Islamic State on Sunday, insur-gents said, helping Moscow’s ally Bashar al-As-sad reclaim territory and dealing a fresh setback to the strategy of Washington and its allies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin - who has infuriated Assad’s enemies in the United States, Europe, Turkey and the Arab world by bombing the rebels to protect him - reached out to one of the Syrian leader’s � ercest oppo-nents by meeting the powerful defense min-ister of Saudi Arabia.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group that monitors the 4-year-old con� ict, said the Syrian military and its Lebanese Hez-bollah militia allies had taken control of Tal Skik, a highland area in Idlib province, after � erce Russian bombing.

That brings Syrian government forces clos-er to insurgent-held positions along the main highway that links Syria’s principal cities. The area is held by a rebel alliance that excludes Islamic State � ghters.

“The coming battles are going to be fero-cious, the Russians are using scorched earth policy and they are hitting the targets very

accurately but this is a battle of destiny,” said Abu Hamed, the head of the military bureau of Jabhat Sham, an insurgent group that oper-ates mainly in Hama province.

The Syrian army made advances from the towns of Mourek and Atshan in Hama prov-ince using tanks, heavy artillery and new sur-face-to-surface missiles, he said.

Russia said its planes had � own 64 sorties, striking 63 targets and destroying 53 forti� ed positions in the previous 24 hours. As in the past, it described all targets as belonging to Is-lamic State, although most of the areas it said it had struck are not held by that group. l

News bytes5 Nato members killed in Afghanistan crash Five members of Nato’s international support mission in Afghanistan were killed and � ve in-jured when a British military helicopter crashed in the capital, Kabul, o� cials said on Monday.

Nato’s Resolute Support mission said in a statement that two British service members, two US service members and one French con-tracted civilian were killed as a result of Sun-day’s crash at its headquarters in Kabul.

Britain’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on its website that two Royal Air Force personnel had been killed when a British Puma Mk 2 helicopter crashed while landing at the base. -REUTERS

Palestinian foreign minister: Israel wants third inti� daPalestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki on Monday accused Israel of seeking to spark “a third intifada,” as violence again � ared in Jerusa-lem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to instigate a third intifada. He wants to avoid problems that he is facing in the political and diplomatic arena, where he has failed mis-erably,” Malki told AFP in Vienna.

The site has been a � ashpoint in the con� ict and the scene of frequent clashes between po-lice and Palestinian youths.

Calling on Israel to act “according to interna-tional law,” he said there was nevertheless still “a possibility to contain” the crisis.

The renewed violence, involving 18 stabbings of Israelis by Palestinians, an Israeli air strike on Gaza and deadly clashes, has prompted interna-tional diplomatic e� orts to defuse the tensions.

The crisis began on October 1, when an al-leged Hamas cell shot dead a Jewish settler cou-ple in the West Bank in front of their children.

It followed repeated clashes at the Al-Aqsa compound in September between Israeli secu-rity forces and Palestinian youths.

Malki made the comments ahead of a cere-mony for the raising of the Palestinian � ag at the UN o� ce in the Austrian capital after the � ag was raised at UN headquarters on October 1. -AFP

Two Mubarak sons could be released from prisonAn Egyptian court on Monday ruled that former president Hosni Mubarak’s two sons could be released from prison while awaiting an appeal for a case involving the theft of state funds, judi-cial sources said.

The case concerns charges that Mubarak and his sons Alaa and Gamal embezzled millions of dollars of state funds, using money intended to upgrade presidential palaces to instead reno-vate private family residencies.

Alaa and Gamal Mubarak were sentenced along with their 87-year-old father, who was toppled in a popular uprising in 2011 and now re-sides in a Cairo military hospital, to three years in prison in a re-trial of the case last May.

The court ruled on Monday that the Mubar-ak sons had already served the requisite time in prison for the sentence while awaiting the ap-peal process, which is continuing.

The two still face charges in two separate cases involving insider trading and illicit gains but will not be held in custody while awaiting trial, the judicial sources said. -REUTERS

Family members and friends of Azize Onat, a victim of Saturday’s bomb blasts, carry his co� n during a funeral ceremony in Istanbul, October 12. Hundreds of people chanting anti-government slogans marched towards a mosque in an Istanbul suburb on Monday REUTERS

WORLD10DT


l Indian Election Commission said voter turnout is a record for Bihar. In the 2010 assembly elections, 50.85% of the elec-torate had voted.

l Women turned out in larger numbers to vote than men - 59.5 % of the women voted and 54.5%of the men. There were 13.5 million voters in this phase.

l Added to the tight security detail for yesterday’s election was the deploy-ment of three drones.

l The polling was peaceful, said Deputy Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha

l Of the 49 seats where polling was held yesterday, Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) had won 29 in 2010. But it had fought that election in partnership with the BJP, which now leads the rival camp. Kumar’s new ally is Lalu Prasad Yadav, his number one rival in the last election.

l This time, the JD(U) is contesting 24 of the 49 seats in the first phase, Lalu’s RJD is contesting 17 and third partner Congress is contesting eight. The big worry is whether Lalu Prasad

will be able to transfer his votes to the JD(U).

l BJP, the Indian ruling party, is contest-ing 27 seats in the � rst phase and ally Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP is contesting 13. The LJP has high stakes in this phase - it holds four of this region’s eight Lok Sab-ha seats. Other BJP allies are contesting the nine other seats.

l The BJP-led coalition is targeting at winning at least 30 of the 49 seats in yesterday’s election to get a strong start in what is seen as a neck-and-neck con-test.

l The Bihar elections are crucial for the BJP which needs to build numerical muscle in the Rajya Sabha, or the upper house of In-dian Parliament. The BJP-led government has been unable to push key reforms in Parliament because it is in a minority in the Rajya Sabha, whose members are elected by state legislatures.

l The results in Bihar will also set the tone for several key assembly elections next year - West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Tamil Nadu. Votes will be counted on November 8. l

Major Developments

India, US, Japan kick o� naval drills likely to annoy Chinan Reuters, New Delhi

India, Japan and the United States will hold joint naval exercises each year, Indian gov-ernment sources said on Monday, as the three countries kicked o� the � rst such drills in the Bay of Bengal in eight years, a move likely to concern China.

The last time New Delhi hosted multilat-eral drills in its waters in 2007 prompted dis-quiet in China where some saw it as a US -in-spired security grouping on the lines of Nato in Europe.

But Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled a more robust security policy, seeking stronger strategic ties with the United States and Japan while keeping a lid on bor-der tensions with China.

The United States is deploying the aircraft carrier, USS Theodore Roosevelt, and a nucle-ar-powered submarine in the week-long exer-cises that the Indian navy said will cover the full spectrum of manoeuvres.

“These exercises are all-encompassing, starting from one spectrum to the other in-cluding anti-piracy operations, board, search and seize and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” said Indian navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma.

The decision to expand the Malabar exer-cises that the US and India conduct each year to include Japan comes days after a Pentagon o� cial said it was considering sailing war-ships close to China’s arti� cial islands in the South China Sea.

The Financial Times newspaper last week cit-ed a senior US o� cial as saying US ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain, within the next two weeks.

India has kept away from the tensions in the South China, but has stood with the US in calling for freedom of navigation in the region.

Tokyo has been involved in the drills o� and on in recent years when these have held in the Paci� c, but the three governments had now agreed to formalise it, Indian defence sources said.

The Indian navy is deploying a submarine to the Malabar exercises along with surface ships and maritime surveillance aircraft, but neither of its two aircraft carriers will take part. Japan has sent a lone destroyer.

“One of the primary concerns is the chal-lenge to the free � ow of goods and services on the high seas in recent times and strengthen-ing the Indo-Paci� c idea,” he said. l

57% voter turnout in � rst phase of Bihar pollsn Agencies

The � rst phase of Bihar, the 13th largest state in India, assembly elections yes-terday saw a voter turnout of 57%. Polling was held for 49 of 243 constituencies on the state.

11D

TEDITORIALTUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

INSIDE

A history of under-investment in public hospitals and low expectations in enforcing care and hygiene standards underpins the cycle of neglect which limits public con� dence in Bangladesh’s hospital system.

While � nancial constraints are sometimes unavoidable, there is no excuse for poor management in maintaining hygiene and post-operative care standards.

Bangladesh has made commendable progress in raising life expectancy, ensuring immunisation, and increasing access to medicines. There is no reason why these successes cannot be spread to helping to improve the quality of care in our hospitals.

It is a sad fact of life that concerns about care quality apply to many of our hospitals, in both the public and private sectors. Were this not the case, we would see fewer a� uent and in� uential people habitually � y abroad when they need medical treatment.

The low standards of care in Bangladesh’s hospitals were recently highlighted in the low ranking, 79th out of 80, given by the 2015 EIU Quality of Death Index, measuring the quality of palliative care provided for the terminally-ill, and chronically bed-ridden.

Although some aspects of this low score, such as expensive drugs and dialysis for patients with cancer and acute renal failures, may primarily be a matter of resources, the deeper problem lies in poor management of the resources we do have available.

Better management is urgently needed to improve care quality standards.The government should work with universities and hospitals to increase

investment in improving the skills and training of medical and health care professionals. There is no reason why, with our large demographic dividend, we cannot plan to train much greater numbers of skilled professionals.

Good quality hospital care and treatment is an everyday need, not a luxury. Our growing and ageing population deserves to see substantive initiatives to improve care quality and increase long term health care provision.

Good quality hospital care and treatment is an everyday need, not a luxury

A time for action not complacency

Maid to su� erFor minor transgressions, young maids were beaten up; in fact, one of my cousins scalded a young girl working in their house with an iron. The episode was quickly hushed up with a little extra money to the mother. In a twist of fate, that cousin works part-time as a babysitter in the USA now

Be heardWrite to Dhaka Tribune

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Kill ’em with kindnessEuthanasia, where someone’s life is ended for the betterment of all those involved, including the one who is dying, is a far nobler cause than most may realise. It does not boast even an iota of cruelty

The events that happened in Bangladesh could have happened in many countries, not just in Asia but in the West. It does not re� ect a lack of preparedness on our part in my view. Its shock impact on the foreign community is ironically a re� ection of just how safe Bangladesh has been for foreigners versus other parts of the world

Focus on quality to end the cycle of neglect in our hospitals

BIG

STO

CK

OPINION12DT


n SN Rasul

Out of 80 countries analysed, Bang-ladesh came out second worst in “end-of-life care,” just above the war-torn, brow-beaten Iraq. Almost

amusingly termed the “quality of death,” our great nation was found to be greatly lacking in palliative care -- care given at the end of one’s life, “an approach that improves the quality of life through the prevention and relief of su� ering by the means of treatment of pain and other problems.”

Abak Hussain, yesterday, in his opinion piece “Not-So-Golden Years,” covers this extensively. To paraphrase him: As a culture that prides itself on its ability to encourage close-knit families, unlike the West, where kids and their respective families stay on

with their parents to look after them, this is not expected.

This is interesting, to say the least; but not very surprising. With proper health care too expensive and our hospitals and hospices in dire condition -- the ones run by the govern-ment are drowning in woefully high numbers of patients and the private ones are getting away with murder, literally, on a daily basis -- the issue isn’t one about culture.

It is undeniable that Western cultures, as “fast,” as radical, as they may be, at least most of them, provide an organised method of health care that leaves very few of their inhabitants behind.

So, if our elderly, who are su� ering this much, and are in need of health care their family members can’t a� ord, would it not be better to just … put them out of their misery?

Okay, okay. Wait. Hold on to the trigger. Give me a second chance to redeem myself. Let us backtrack, take it slow. Easy now.

Euthanasia, or assisted suicide, is the practice of ending someone’s life to relieve their pain or su� ering. There are di� erent forms of euthanasia, with voluntary euthana-sia, done at the request of the patient, being legal in four countries: The Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.

Involuntary euthanasia would, of course, be one where a patient’s life is ended without his or her explicit consent. This is more easily justi� able as being a form of murder and, as a result, is legal nowhere in the world. For the purposes of this debate, let us stick to the former kind.

Imagine a scenario which is not hard to imagine: A man in his 90s lies wretchedly dying. He has a form of terminal illness, in-curable, or curable, but gone past the stages when anything could’ve been done, and he is on life support, barely clinging on to life. He is perhaps in a coma, or perhaps he can barely speak. Words escape his mouth like dusty whispers.

He is being “taken care of” at a private hospital. The daily cost is in the thousands, being footed by his family members -- sons and daughters -- who, of course, love him, and do not wish to see their father wither away into nothingness from the great man he once was.

Every day, this once great man, endures excruciating pain. He is fed through his nostrils, through stoic tubes carrying tasteless � uids. Every day, his family descends into increasing amounts of debt. His sons and daughters, for whom he worked his entire life, can now barely a� ord their children’s private school education. By the time he dies, of “natural causes,” the damage has been done.

In that situation, is it really that hard to imagine that his life would’ve better served the world had it been extinguished at the right time?

This may sound cruel; maybe it is. In a world dynamic where we’re constantly � ght-ing for the rights of people who have none or close to none of it, this sort of objective callousness may seem, to some, glaringly out of place.

But euthanasia, where someone’s life is ended for the betterment of all those involved, including the one who is dying, is a far nobler cause than most may realise. It does not boast even an iota of cruelty, and it doesn’t even go anywhere near the concept of murder.

This is done out of the choice of the patient, pure and simple. Yes, this utilises a quasi-utilitarian principle, where the needs of the many outweigh the few. But when it comes to voluntary euthanasia, even the pa-tient in question has given his or her consent. Is this really such a radical concept to grasp, embrace, and celebrate? Is this really a moral conundrum?

Somehow, we have collectively decided that allowing death to occur, no matter what, is taboo, brutal, cruel, immoral, undoable.

However, one may interject, citing the aforementioned example: What if he/she’s in a coma? Then he won’t have the cognitive ability to give consent.

Yes, that would be true. But, objectively speaking, even in that situation, since the only thing that exists of that great man is the body that carried his spirit, it would be mere-ly the act of cutting the � nal cord that had been forcefully tethering him to the physical world.

And, on the � ipside, if one is allowed to prolong life by using medicine and other technology, shouldn’t they be allowed to do the opposite, namely, to end it, when and if they choose? What purpose does it serve to prolong misery in a world that is over� owing with it already?

This is even more relevant in a country such as Bangladesh, where, as evidence suggests, the old and the sick su� er enormously because of our already pathetic health care system. Until, at least, our government can ensure proper health care for each and every one of our citizens, whereby they are given the best treatment possible no matter what their � nancial status may be, assisted suicide may be a kind form of easing pain.

To kill is not a blanket term for a nega-tive act; one can be killed, softly, and with kindness. l

SN Rasul is a writer. Follow him on Twitter @snrasul.

Kill ’em with kindnessAssisted suicide can be a legitimate way of ending a patient’s su� ering

Euthanasia, where someone’s life is ended for the betterment of all those involved, including the one who is dying, is a far nobler cause than most may realise. It does not boast even an iota of cruelty

Do terminally-ill patients have the right to choose death? BIGSTOCK

OPINION 13D

TTUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

n Towheed Feroze

For a developing nation like Bang-ladesh, the child labour issue, especially as domestic help, is a bit of a paradox.

Morally, it cannot be endorsed but, when looked at from the perspective of the worker who would rather earn a living than starve or remain as a perceived burden on a large family, this is one practice which has to be accommodated.

Of course, once we begin to attach some basic ethical values in this arrangement, the atmosphere of work can be tolerable, and at times, a joy for the young worker, be it a girl or a boy.

Unfortunately, the actual reality of domestic help below the age of 15 is often very harsh, as we have come to � nd with the outrageous case of a girl who was tortured by none other than a national cricket team player.

The sportsman in question and his wife re-portedly beat the 11-year-old-girl, employed to look after his infant, with a cooking spatu-la, forcing her to sleep in the toilet allegedly for about a year.

The girl has told law enforcement that the physical torture was the � nal layer after initial reprimand involving verbal abuse.

This case involving a national/internation-al level sports personality has been featured in all media outlets, bringing to the front the plight of young children who work in urban homes.

In true knee-jerk fashion, a lot of us are � lled with repulsion after the misbehaviour of the cricketer and his wife came out in the open, but maybe when we are unitedly pointing a � nger at someone, it’s wise to keep in mind that the blame lies on the whole of society and not just one couple.

To trace the root of employing young children from under-privileged backgrounds, we need to go back to the 70s when a famine in the country drove thousands from the villages to head for the city and towns to look for work.

In those post-war situations of confu-sion and privation, the only demand was food, three square meals a day and nothing else. For about four to � ve years, thousands worked in urban households only for food.

In that atmosphere of desperation, the � rst ground for exploitation and abuse was formed.

The domestic help accepted that, as part of their work, they will be punished and, sometimes, physically abused.

To be blunt: This ill-treatment was not con� ned to middle-class households only. The same culture prevailed in wealthy or a� uent homes where slapping, deprivation of food, and locking in toilets were common.

While the improvement of the economic situation brought in the blessing of a monthly salary, unnecessary punishing of domestic help, especially the young ones, continued.

The attitude of the employer seemed to suggest, in exchange for food plus money, everything needed to be tolerated.

The common “faults” included eating

pieces of meat or � sh without permission (a grave sin until the early 90s), hiding toys belonging to the family child or even taking them or, stealing a clothing item.

Still today, in many homes, two types of rice are cooked: The � ne variety for the home members and a coarse one for the workers. This distinction was even more pronounced in the late 70s and 80s.

For minor transgressions, young maids were beaten up; in fact, one of my cousins scalded a young girl working in their house with an iron.

The episode was quickly hushed up with a little extra money to the mother. In a twist of fate, that cousin works part-time as a baby-sitter in the USA now; I wonder if she remembers the cruel streak she had in Bangladesh.

A few years ago, there was a hullabaloo in the house of one of our relatives, and we found that the young girl, almost crossing ad-olescence, was being chastised because she

had stolen a few undergarments belonging to a family member.

The anger was � lled with venom, the rebuke scathing. The girl, with head bowed silently, faced the accusations: Thief, low born, ingrate ...

It never occurred to anyone to just think for a few moments about the episode and what had driven the girl to do what she did. Coming from a poor background, growing up in a city home, it’s only natural that at a certain age she would feel the desire to own things beyond her reach, perhaps out of sheer romanticism that accompanies the age, obscuring the line between privileged and non-privileged.

Would it have been a mammoth sacri� ce if the items she had taken were to be given to her with the added line that, if she liked something she could ask for it.

No, that does not mean everything has to be handed out, but these small mistakes do not warrant severe punishment.

Come to think of it: Politicians in Bang-ladesh have always gone scot-free, stealing million times more and doing far more diabolical acts of venality only to be revered in society.

I � nd it funny when the wife of a known corrupt tax o� cial living in my area resorts to strenuous bargaining over the monthly salary of a house-maid. According to her, it’s criminal for a worker to demand a Tk1,000 increase.

If there is a social survey, the startling revelation will be that most young domestic workers hardly earn over Tk1,500 per month, the amount most urban households spend for a few burgers in one evening.

The domestic help, the boy or a girl, will eat a little more, take a few toys, or break a few things because they are just like any one of us, humans with faults; the question we never ask is why, living with so much hy-pocrisy all around, compromising with them readily (fawningly), we only want the young people working for us to be the examples of moral correctness?

I am not a saint, but know that the people who work as domestic help will forget some instructions, save a few hundred from the shopping to keep it for themselves, make up a false illness to take a day o� , pinch a clothing item, take it to the village and say it’s lost, or break something while working absent-mindedly.

Honestly speaking, being imperfect my-self, I can live with that! Can you? l

Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Maid to su� erDomestic workers are only human, and should never be abused

For minor transgressions, young maids were beaten up; in fact, one of my cousins scalded a young girl working in their house with an iron. The episode was quickly hushed up with a little extra money to the mother. In a twist of fate, that cousin works part-time as a babysitter in the USA now

These scars speak volumes about us as a society SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

LONG FORM14DT


n Ifty Islam

We have not yet had to contend in Bangladesh with a return of such extremists here but we should be prepared

for it. More broadly, as the US State Department’s “Country Reports on Terrorism 2014” published earlier this year noted: “Bangladesh’s criminal justice system is in the process of fully implementing the Antiterrorism Act of 2009 (ATA) as amended

in 2012 and 2013. Although Bangladesh’s ATA does not outlaw recruitment and travel in furtherance of terrorism, the broad language of the ATA provides several mechanisms by which Bangladesh can implement UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2178, which requires nations to address the foreign terrorist � ghter threat.”

An e� ective counter-terrorism strategy for Bangladesh also needs to maintain its focus on targeting � nancial � ows that sustain terrorist activity as well as the cross-border movement of potential threats. Bangladesh is a member of the Asia/Paci� c Group on Mon-ey Laundering, a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-style regional body.

The terrorist � nance provisions of the ATA outlaw the provision, receipt, and collection of money, service, and material support where “there are reasonable grounds to be-lieve that … the same has been used or may be used for any purpose by a terrorist entity.” The Act prohibits membership and support of prohibited organisations, ie organisations engaged or involved in terrorist activities.

The counter-terrorism strategy of the EU and UK both share common themes. The EU

has four core focus points of “Prevent, Pro-tect, Pursue, and Respond.” Prevent focuses on tackling the factors which lead to people turning to radicalism and enabled recruit-ment. It was noted by the US State Depart-ment that much more needs to be done in Bangladesh to tackle the spread of extrem-ism, especially among the youth. “Protect” focuses on strengthening borders, transport, and critical infrastructure.

“Pursue” and “Respond” focus on investi-gating terrorism within a country’s borders, as well as internationally; disrupt support networks; cut o� funding; bring terrorists to justice; deal with the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

In terms of “Prevent,” Bangladesh is already making a sustained e� ort to limit and counter the spread of radicalism and militancy. The US State Department Report noted that in 2014, Bangladesh became a board member and pilot country for the Global Fund for Community Engagement and Resilience, a public-private global fund to support local, grass-roots e� orts to counter violent extremism. Bangladesh uses strategic communication to counter violent extrem-ism, especially among the youth. Moreover, the Ministry of Religious A� airs and the National Committee on Militancy Resis-tance and Prevention work with imams and religious scholars to build public awareness against terrorism.

In conclusion, the two murders of for-eigners in Gulshan and Rangpur need to be investigated and the killers tracked down as a matter of urgency. In both cases, the individ-uals were committed to the development of Bangladesh. The case of Japanese citizen Mr Kunio, a man trying to bring more e� cient practices to agriculture in rural Bangladesh and who even converted to Islam, is a partic-ular travesty and morally reprehensible.

The events that happened in Bangladesh could have happened in many countries, not just in Asia but in the West. It does not re� ect a lack of preparedness on our part in my view. Its shock impact on the foreign community is ironically a re� ection of just how safe Bangladesh has been for foreigners versus other parts of the world.

Nonetheless, beyond these two speci� c human tragedies, these events serve as a wake up call for us to take counter-terrorism risks more seriously. Bangladesh has not had to contend with the types of terrorist attacks we have seen with the London bombings in 2005, the Mumbai attack of 2008 culminating in the hijacking of the Taj Hotel and, more recently, the Tunisia beach attack earlier this year.

But this is a clear and present danger for every country. Terrorism is a global phenom-enon and hopefully a new counter-terrorism task force for Bangladesh will restore the con� dence foreigners have in this country. Our reputation, and, I would argue, our fu-ture economic development, depend on it. l

Ifty Islam is Managing Partner, Asian Tiger Capital Partners Ltd.

A time for action not complacencyBangladesh needs to develop an e� ective counter-terrorism strategy. This is the concluding part of yesterday’s long form

The events that happened in Bangladesh could have happened in many countries, not just in Asia but in the West. It does not re� ect a lack of preparedness on our part in my view. Its shock impact on the foreign community is ironically a re� ection of just how safe Bangladesh has been for foreigners versus other parts of the world

The threat is real BIGSTOCK

15D

TBusiness TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

OPEC chief con� dent of a balanced oil market in 2016

17 Stocks rebound on buying spree19

Fed vice chair: Rate hike ‘expectation, not commitment’

16100MW wind power station to be set up in Patuakhali

20

Junior minister asks state banks, FIs to outsmart lobbyistsn Tribune Report

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan has asked the bankers to rise above lobbying as a strategy to gradually recover the ailing � -nancial health of the state-owned banks and � nancial institutions.

He suggested the top o� cials of banks and � nancial institutions not to bow down to the requests from lobbyists and carry on their works guided by morality.

He said 90% of his daily works are centred on entertaining requests from lobbyists, of which 89% are unfair.

“We receive some unfair requests that should not be made, but we cannot say no,” he said while addressing a signing ceremony at the Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday.

Bank and Financial Institutions Division of the � nance ministry signed performance con-tract with � ve-state-owned specialised banks and two � nancial institutions with an aim to improve their � nancial health.

Finance Secretary M Aslam Alam chaired the event while managing directors and

chairmen of the respective institutions were present.

DO (demi o� cial) letter is known to all, he said, adding that even a farmer knows what the DO letter is. “Please, don’t call me untime-ly and don’t make unusual requests,” he said.

The banks and � nancial institutions that signed the performance contract are Bangla-desh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Karmasangsthan Bank, Ansar VDP Un-nayan Bank, Probashi Kallyan Bank, Bang-ladesh House Building Finance Corporation and Investment Corporation of Bangladesh.

The government started the performance contract system from � nancial year 2014-15 to achieve expected goal. As part of this, the government signed the contract for the sec-ond time yesterday.

The performance of banks and � nancial in-stitutions was found better in their evaluation as the evaluation criteria was set loosely con-sidering the � rst year, he said at the signing ceremony.

The evaluation was done on the basis of � -nancial indicators of the institutions.

ICB disbursed loans and advances of Tk1,411 crore in the year 2014-15 and dis-bursement target for 2015-16 is set at Tk1,550 crore, for 2016-17 Tk1,620 crore and for 2017-18 Tk1,650 crore.

Automation implementation of ICB was 20% in the last � scal year and the target is set at 25% for FY2015-16.

Probashi Kallyan Bank disbursed loans of Tk33.26 crore in the FY2014-15 and the target is set at Tk42 crore for FY2015-16 Tk60 crore for FY2016-17 and Tk70 crore for FY2017-18.

The number of the bank branches that in-curred loss was 26 in last � scal year which will have to be reduced to 16 by FY2015-16, 10 by FY2016-17 and 5 by 2017-18.

Ansar VDP Unnayan Bank disbursed loans of Tk344.68 crore in the last year and the disbursement target is set at Tk375 crore for FY2015-16, Tk500 crore for FY2016-17 and Tk520 crore for FY2017-18.

BKB disbursed loans of Tk5,721 crore in the FY2014-15 and it will have to disburse Tk6,300 crore by FY2015-16, Tk7,000 crore by FY2016-17 and Tk7,500 crore by FY2017-18. l

Mongla Port enjoys 15-year high anchoring last weekn Our Correspondent, Khulna

Bangladesh’s second largest sea port Mong-la Port last week saw an anchoring of 15 goods-laden vessels, the highest in the past 15 years.

Nine more vessels are also expected to ar-rive at the port this week.

According to the Mongla Port Authority, a total of 15 mother vessels anchored at the Pashur Channel last week. Four of them were already unloaded while 11 others were in the process of being unloaded.

“The port users are satis� ed with the recent buzz of activities and the increase of ships anchor-ing,” said Md Saiful Islam, sec-retary general of Coordination Committee of Mongla Port Users.

He said: “If the present an-choring momentum lasts, it will help expedite the development activities of the south-western parts (of the country).”

Saiful Islam said new indus-tries were being set up in the area following the government initia-tives to construct Khan Jahan Ali

Airport and Padma Bridge. He said both local and foreign investors

were using the port now at a greater scale. MPA Chairman Rear Admiral Reaz Uddin

Ahmed told Dhaka Tribune that Nepal and Bhutan expressed interest to use the port.

He believed that the economic activities at the port would increase by manifold after the completion of Padma Bridge, Khan Jahan Ali Airport and Khulna-Mongla railway projects.

MPA chairman said the government took initiatives to establish economic zone on a 205-acre land adjacent to the port. l

BFIU asks Cooperative Society to follow anti-money laundering policyn Tribune Report

Bangladesh Financial Intelligent Unit has is-sued directives to local Cooperative Society to follow the anti-money laundering policy.

It asked the Society to introduce a process to rein in the transaction of money in trading of mass destructive weapons.

BFIU at the Bangladesh Bank issued a cir-cular yesterday asking chairmen of the local Cooperative Society � rms to submit report on their anti-money laundering activities.

According to the circular signed by BFIU Director General Deb Prasad Debnath, each of local cooperative society � rms will set up a central compliance unit and take initiatives to train their sta� on anti-money laundering activities and investigation.

The circular asked the cooperative society � rms to take measures to identify the vener-able clients, favourable persons, geographical areas and services along with the � nancial transactions.

Clients should be identi� ed with care and

clients with pseudonym should not be given loans, BFIU said.

Cooperative society � rms will keep infor-mation about the money laundering of cer-tain clients for � ve years for research and in-telligence investigation.

O� cials of the Cooperative Society � rms will also remain passive for a period of time to catch suspects of money laundering, BFIU said.

According to the Department of Coopera-tives, a total of 0.17m primary cooperative so-cieties and 1,300 central cooperatives are now operating across the country, which handle funds worth over Tk5,000 crore.

Meanwhile, a delegation of Asia Paci� c Group’s Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on combating money laundering and terrorist � nancing is now visiting Bangladesh.

The team will evaluate the country’s regulatory and functional capabilities in tackling the recent terrorist threats and poor records in containing unabated money laundering. l

BB: No bank loan unless jute bag usedn Tribune Report

The suppliers and producers of paddy, rice, wheat, fertiliser and sugar will not be allowed to get loans if they do not use jute bags in product packaging.

Bangladesh Bank issued a circular yes-terday, warning the businessmen that they would not be allowed loan if they fail to com-ply with the mandatory jute packaging law.

The circular said banks will impose condi-tion prior to giving loans to the businessmen.

In this perspective, if the businessmen do not comply with the condition, they will be disquali� ed from getting loan and noti� ed in writing about it by the banks, said the cir-cular.

Despite the fact that the demand for jute products in both national and international markets gains momentum, the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 is yet to be imple-mented properly even four years after the act came into being.

The central bank issued the circular, fol-lowing the decision of inter-ministerial meet-ing, reads the circular. l

BUSINESS16DT


CORPORATE NEWS

Human resources division of Jamuna Bank has recently organised a workshop on key perofrmance indicator (KPI) management for head of its branches. Mamun Mahmud, EVP and head of human resources division was present as a speaker at the workshop

NCC Bank Limited has recently held a board meeting. The bank’s chairperson, SM Abu Mohsin presided over the meeting. The board has approved a number of loan proposals and adopted necessary strategy at the meeting

Butter� y Marketing Ltd has recently held a conference for its branch managers. The company’s chairperson and managing director, MA Mannan attended the conference as chief guest

Fed vice chair: Rate hike expectation, not commitmentn Reuters

US Federal Reserve policymakers are still likely to raise interest rates this year but that is “an expectation, not a commitment”, and could change if the global economy pushes the US economy further o� course, Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer said.

“Both the timing of the � rst rate increase and any subsequent adjustments to the federal funds rate target will depend critically on future developments in the economy,” Fischer told a group on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund meeting in Peru.

He said “considerable uncertainties” sur-rounded the US economic outlook, particu-larly the drag on exports from slowing global growth, low investment caused by the decline in oil prices and what he called a “disappoint-ing” recent drop in US job growth.

He said he felt the US economy was still generating enough jobs to continue making progress towards the Fed’s goal of maximum employment and that in� ation would eventu-ally rise. Based on that, he said, the US central bank should be able to keep on track with an initial rate hike expected in October or De-cember.

But he also cautioned the group that the

United States is now more exposed than ever to international events and that develop-ments in China and elsewhere had already in� uenced the Fed to delay a widely expected rate increase in September.

“We do not currently anticipate that the e� ects of these recent developments on the US economy will prove to be large enough to have a signi� cant e� ect on the path for poli-cy,” he said.

“That said, recent employment reports have been somewhat disappointing and, as always, we are closely monitoring developments that could a� ect our sense of the economic outlook and the risks

surrounding that outlook.”Fischer was speaking on the sidelines of an

IMF meeting where some other central bank-ers were encouraging the Fed to eliminate uncertainty and move forward with their rate “lift-o� .”

But Fischer said the implications of a global slowdown were to0 serious to ignore and would not let the Fed overcommit on its plans.

Even though uncertainty about the Fed’s intentions might itself roil global markets, “We remain committed to communicating our intentions as clearly as possible – but not more than the facts warrant,” he said. l

Bangladesh team in Bhutan to negotiate double tax avoidance dealn Tribune Report

Bangladesh has begun formal negotiations with Bhutan to avoid double taxation in trade between two countries and also to combat tax evasions.

A � ve-member delegation, led by National Board of Revenue Chairman Nojibur Rahman, is now in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu to hold meetings with the authorities.

At the meetings the o� cials will negoti-ate signing of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between the two countries, according to an NBR press release issued yester-day. The visit will continue until Thursday.

It is expected that the agreement will be signed soon and the agreement will help in-

crease economic activities between the two nations and � ght tax evasion cases.

Currently, Bangladesh has double tax avoidance deals with 32 countries including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malay-sia, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, UK, Sweden, France, Germany, Norway, Po-land, USA and Canada.

Meanwhile, the country has completed formalities to sign such agreements with sev-eral other countries including Morocco, Bah-rain, Qatar and Kuwait.

NBR o� cials said process was also un-derway to start discussions for double tax avoidance deals with the countries including Spain, Portugal, Russia, Iran, Hong Kong, Ne-pal, Oman and South Africa. l

Oil prices extend gains in Asian traden AFP, Singapore

Oil prices climbed in Asia yesterday boosted by a weaker dollar and expectations a rise in demand will ease a global supply glut, while investors await the release of key Chinese economic data this week.

Both main crude contracts have rallied since hitting six-year lows in late August, with last week seeing healthy rallies in line with global equities on easing expectations the US Federal Reserve will hike borrowing costs this year, pushing the dollar lower.

A softer dollar makes dollar-priced oil cheap-er, spurring demand. Comments by OPEC sec-retary general Abdullah el-Badri at the week-end that the cartel sees a “more balanced” oil market next year also provided support.

In late-morning Asian trade, US bench-mark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery rose 0.93% to $50.09 and Brent crude for November added 0.78% to $53.06 a barrel.

Attention is on the release of Chinese trade and in� ation data, which will give a fresh idea about the state of the world’s biggest ener-gy consumer. Con� dence was given a lift at

the start of the month by data indicating the country’s key manufacturing sector saw a slight improvement in September.

The news provided some cheer after a string of � gures over the past two years high-lighted a sharp slowdown in Chinese growth. Fears about the Asian economic giant were in-� amed in August when authorities devalued the yuan currency, raising questions about their grip on the crisis.

Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Mar-kets Singapore, said Monday’s price rise was bolstered after el-Badri said Sunday: “OPEC is con� dent that it will see a more balanced market in 2016.

“In recent months, there has been a con-traction in production from non-OPEC pro-ducers and an increase in global demand.”

The comments meant the oil producers’ cartel - which accounts for about 40 percent of global production - “still sees stronger de-mand in the medium term”, Aw told AFP.

Despite the recent uptick, oil prices remain depressed owing to concerns about demand as the global economy stutters, a supply glut and the weakness in China. l

BUSINESS 17D


OPEC chief con� dent of a balanced oil market in 2016n AFP, Kuwait City

OPEC is con� dent that the oil market will be “more balanced” next year as non-OPEC pro-duction has contracted and global demand is increasing, the cartel’s secretary general Ab-dullah el-Badri said early yesterday.

“OPEC is con� dent that it will see a more balanced market in 2016,” Badri told an oil and gas conference in Kuwait City.

“In recent months, there has been a con-traction in production from non-OPEC produc-ers and an increase in global demand,” he said.

However, Badri also admitted that the “market remains oversupplied”, and insisted that stability is paramount to the crude market which faced “extremely challenging times”.

The OPEC chief said market fundamentals did not support the sharp drop in oil prices which have fallen by almost 60% since June 2014.

Badri said that global demand for oil is forecast to rise to 110 million barrels per day by 2040 from 93 million bpd now.

“This requires investments of $10tn be-tween now and then,” he said.

Earlier Sunday, Qatar’s Energy Ministry Mohammed bin Saleh al-Sada, who is acting OPEC president, said there were signs of an oil price rise next year, adding that the oil price has “bottomed out”.

He said world GDP growth in 2016 is slat-ed to be 3.4% as against an expected 3.1% in 2015, and that this would result in an increase in global oil demand by 1.3 to 1.5 million bpd.

Growth in supplies from non-OPEC pro-ducers over the past � ve years has substantial-ly reduced in 2015 and is likely to show zero to negative growth in 2016, the statement said.

Venezuela - which has been trying hard to persuade oil producers to cut output to boost prices - said Thursday a technical meeting of OPEC and other crude-producing countries would take place on October 21.

Badri on Sunday con� rmed the meeting would take place at an expert level and that OPEC and non-OPEC producers will attend.

He said the cartel was ready to cooperate with non-OPEC producers to deal with the market glut if they show a similar desire.

There were no speci� c recommendations or proposals for the technical meeting, Badri said, but “it will be a discussion to � nd a solu-tion” for the oil market.

Badri said OPEC believes the current prob-

lem in the oil market has been created by all producers, but especially by non-OPEC states which raised their production sharply.

“Non-OPEC increased their output by 6 million barrels per day in the past six years, and OPEC believes this is the reason for the glut in the oil market,” he said.

On Friday, oil edged up in New York and slipped in London as traders booked pro� ts from the week’s rally fuelled by hopes for over-supply relief from lower US crude production. l

OPEC secretary general Abdullah el-Badri addresses a conference during the Kuwait Oil and Gas show in Kuwait City AFP

Fed comment helps dollar higher but yen, euro advancen AFP, Singapore

Comments from the Federal Reserve’s vice president that he expects a US interest rate hike this year pushed up the dollar against most emerging market currencies yesterday after seeing big losses last week.

The greenback has seen heavy selling pres-sure since data at the beginning of the month showed jobs growth slowed in September, raising concerns about the recovery in the world’s number one economy.

And the release of minutes last week from the Fed’s latest policy meeting showed board members could delay because of worries about the global outlook.

Prospects a rise in borrowing costs would be put back to 2016 has helped fuel a global markets rally this month, with developing economy currencies big winners - Indonesia’s rupiah last week soared about eight percent and the Malaysian rupiah jumped almost sev-en percent.

However, on Sunday Fed vice chairman Stanley Fischer said the bank expected to stick to its plan to tighten monetary policy by the end of the year, although he added that the plans were an “expectation, not a com-mitment”.

He added that “both the timing of the � rst rate increase and any subsequent adjust-ments to the federal funds rate target will de-pend critically on future developments in the economy”.

While his comments, on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund’s annual meeting in Lima, do not indicate the Fed will lift rates, they show policymakers continue to consider it.

‘Volatility ahead’The greenback rose more than one percent against the ringgit yesterday, while it was up 0.10% against the rupiah and 0.08% against the Australian dollar. Against South Korea’s won it rose 0.15% and it gained 0.54% versus the Singapore dollar.

Emerging markets around the world have taken a hit this year on expectations the Fed will tighten borrowing costs, leading inves-tors to withdraw cash back to the United States looking for higher, safer returns.

“It does seem as though they’re leaving the option open for a rate hike this year, but at the same time they’re not committing to it either,” Janu Chan, a senior economist in Syd-ney at St. George Bank, told Bloomberg News.

“Whatever happens, you’ll get quite a bit of volatility in currencies for the next few months.” Against major currencies the dollar edged down, however.

In midday trade the euro was at $1.1372 from $1.1359 in late New York Friday. The dollar also eased to 120.21 Japanese yen from 120.27 yen. The euro was at 136.69 yen against 136.62 yen.

“The prevailing market expectation is in-creasingly towards a no-hike this year, de-spite Fed’s view that a 2015 lift-o� is still on the cards,” Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets Singapore, told AFP.

And Nomura Securities forecast in a March lift-o� in a market commentary.

Investors are keeping an eye on the release of key data this week from the United States and China that will give a better idea about the state of the world economy and the Fed’s policy plans.

Japanese markets were closed Monday for a holiday. l

Qatar sees oil price recovery in 2016n AFP, Doha

Qatar’s oil minister said early yesterday he saw signs of an oil price rise in 2016 because of a recovery in the global economy and growth in demand.

In a statement, Energy Minister Moham-med bin Saleh al-Sada - who is also acting president of OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries - said the oil price has “bottomed out” and he sees signs of recovery next year.

He said world GDP growth in 2016 is slat-ed to be 3.4% as against an expected 3.1% in 2015, and that this would result in an increase in global oil demand by 1.3 to 1.5 million bar-rels per day (bpd).

Growth in supplies from non-OPEC pro-ducers over the past � ve years has substantial-ly reduced in 2015 and is likely to show zero to negative growth in 2016, the statement said.

“On the other hand, call on OPEC oil is ex-pected to become healthier from 29.3 million bpd in 2015 to 30.5 million bpd in 2016 as indi-cated by increasing demand from both devel-oped and emerging markets,” it said.

Sada added that current low market prices have spurred oil � rms to reduce their capital expenditure by almost 20 percent this year from $650bn in 2014.

“This trend of reducing investment in the oil industry could result in production short-falls down the line,” the statement said.

Venezuela - which has been trying hard to persuade oil producers to cut output to boost prices -- said Thursday a technical meeting of OPEC and other crude-producing countries would take place on October 21.

On Friday, oil edged up in New York and slipped in London as traders booked pro� ts from the week’s rally fuelled by hopes for over-supply relief from lower US crude production.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in November rose 20 cents to $49.63 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in November, the global benchmark, fell to $52.65 a barrel in London, a loss of 40 cents from Thursday’s settlement. l

‘The prevailing market expectation is increasingly towards a no-hike this year, despite Fed’s view that a 2015 lift-o� is still on the cards’

BUSINESS18DT


SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

Sector DSE CSE TotalMillion Taka % change Million Taka % change Million Taka % change

Bank 1074.85 25.81 68.10 22.25 1142.95 25.56NBFI 149.18 3.58 8.10 2.65 157.29 3.52Investment 115.84 2.78 5.20 1.70 121.04 2.71Engineering 450.85 10.83 31.57 10.32 482.42 10.79Food & Allied 234.93 5.64 6.03 1.97 240.96 5.39Fuel & Power 317.09 7.61 33.29 10.88 350.38 7.84Jute 6.24 0.15 0.00 6.24 0.14Textile 377.07 9.05 27.98 9.14 405.05 9.06Pharma & Chemical 513.07 12.32 44.13 14.42 557.20 12.46Paper & Packaging 7.59 0.18 0.75 0.24 8.34 0.19Service 138.46 3.32 8.24 2.69 146.70 3.28Leather 46.41 1.11 1.50 0.49 47.91 1.07Ceramic 44.04 1.06 2.48 0.81 46.52 1.04Cement 310.04 7.44 18.38 6.01 328.42 7.35Information Technology 17.33 0.42 2.85 0.93 20.17 0.45General Insurance 25.05 0.60 0.73 0.24 25.78 0.58Life Insurance 46.02 1.11 2.40 0.79 48.43 1.08Telecom 87.37 2.10 12.45 4.07 99.82 2.23Travel & Leisure 55.85 1.34 10.68 3.49 66.53 1.49Miscellaneous 147.42 3.54 21.18 6.92 168.60 3.77Debenture 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.07 0.00

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 [email protected] or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

News, analysis and recent disclosuresNLI1STMF: (Q1 Un-audited): EPU for July-Sep, 2015 was Tk. 0.91 as against Tk. 0.53 for July-Sep, 2014; NOCFPU was Tk. 0.84 for July-Sep, 2015 as against Tk. 0.32 for July-Sep, 2014. NAV per unit was Tk. 12.78 as of September 30, 2015 and Tk. 13.03 as of June 30, 2015.SEBL1STMF: (Q1 Un-audited): EPU for July-Sep, 2015 was Tk. 0.61 as against Tk. 0.34 for July-Sep, 2014; NOCFPU was Tk. 0.51 for July-Sep, 2015 as against Tk. 0.13 for July-Sep, 2014. NAV per unit was Tk. 12.11 as of September 30, 2015 and Tk. 12.54 as of June 30, 2015.Board of Directors’ Meeting: PIONEERINS October 21, 2015 at 4:00 PM. BSRMLTD October 17, 2015 at 4:30 PM. BSRM-STEEL October 17, 2015 at 4:00 PM. FUWANGFOOD October 21, 2015 at 3:00 PM.FINEFOODS: The Company has informed that their registered o� ce has been shifted to the new address at Vill: Mono-dolvog, U.P.4 no. Chandpur, P.O. Manikkhali, P.S: Katiadi, Dist: Kishoregonj. Corporate and Head O� ce will remain unchanged (New Market City Complex, Level-6, 44/1 Rahim Square, New Market, Dha-ka-1205).Dividend/AGMFARCHEM: 25% stock, EGM & AGM: 18.11.2015, Record Date for EGM and AGM: 27.10.2015. PENINSULA: 10% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 25.11.2015, Record Date: 28.10.2015.QSMDRYCELL: 10% stock, AGM: 26.11.2015, Record Date: 22.10.2015.

EHL: 15% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 12.11.2015, Record Date: 21.10.2015.DBH: 30% cash, AGM: 08.12.2015, Record date: 20.10.2015.PREMIERCEM: 20% cash, AGM: 29.10.2015, Record Date: 18.10.2015.BEACHHATCH: 5% stock, AGM: 08.12.2015, Record Date: 28.10.2015.SAIFPOWER: 29% stock, AGM: 12.11.2015, Record Date: 15.10.2015.APOLOISPAT: 3% Cash and 12% Stock dividend, AGM: 19.11.2015, Record Date: 14.10.2015.MATINSPINN: 27% cash, AGM: 27.10.2015, Record date: 08.10.2015.BSCCL: 10% stock, AGM: 18.10.2015, Record Date: 28.09.2015.MODERNDYE: 10% cash, AGM: 15.10.2015, Record Date: 23.09.2015.GPHISPAT: 17% cash, AGM: 08.11.2015, Record date: 20.09.2015.SAIHAMCOT: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 28.10.2015, Record date: 17.09.2015. BBS: 20% stock, EGM & AGM: 15.10.2015, Record date for EGM & AGM: 20.09.2015.APEXFOODS: 20% cash, AGM: 30.09.2015, Record date: 13.09.2015. APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 04.10.2015, Record date: 09.09.2015. PRAGATILIF: 17% cash and 5% stock dividend AGM: 29.09.2015,. Record Date: 20.08.2015.

CSE GAINER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Midas Financing-Z 10.00 9.86 15.38 15.40 15.40 14.10 0.016 -1.55 -veFareast Islami Life -A 8.50 9.23 68.90 68.90 68.90 68.90 0.003 4.60 15.0GreenDeltaInsu -A 8.22 8.06 54.00 54.00 54.00 54.00 0.007 1.80 30.0BD Submarine Cable-A 7.74 5.40 107.92 110.00 112.10 103.00 7.109 0.78 138.4Premier Cement-A 7.31 4.00 95.61 98.40 98.60 91.80 1.764 3.83 25.0Jamuna Bank -A 7.08 7.49 12.05 12.10 12.30 11.40 1.445 1.50 8.0Brac Bank -A 6.57 6.13 49.51 50.30 50.80 47.80 7.264 2.88 17.2Eastern Bank - A 5.62 5.31 28.16 28.20 28.70 27.10 0.132 4.06 6.9Unique Hotel RL - A 5.29 4.68 49.68 49.80 49.80 47.00 2.236 2.92 17.0National Polymer -A 5.26 4.32 109.00 110.00 110.00 106.50 0.431 3.36 32.4

DSE GAINER


Aver-age (%

Change)


in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

BD Submarine Cable-A 7.14 4.94 107.30 109.50 112.40 102.50 25.800 0.78 137.6Premier Cement-A 6.72 3.76 95.93 98.50 98.80 93.10 117.016 3.83 25.0Brac Bank -A 6.57 6.79 49.73 50.30 50.60 47.60 159.061 2.88 17.3AMCL 2nd MF-A 6.38 4.87 4.95 5.00 5.10 4.70 1.948 0.71 7.0NLI 1st M F-A 5.56 3.87 9.39 9.50 9.50 9.20 2.067 1.50 6.3Dulamia CottonZ 5.33 8.58 7.97 7.90 8.00 7.70 0.063 -3.15 -veJamuna Bank -A 5.22 5.61 12.04 12.10 12.40 11.50 25.805 1.50 8.0ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A 4.84 3.53 6.46 6.50 6.50 6.40 0.215 0.97 6.7BSRM Steels-A 4.73 3.23 91.29 93.00 93.40 88.50 77.884 6.18 14.8Asia Insur. Ltd.-A 4.32 3.09 14.35 14.50 14.60 13.90 1.456 1.20 12.0

CSE LOSER


Aver-age (%

Change)


in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

ISN Ltd. -Z -6.25 -3.49 10.50 10.50 10.50 10.50 0.000 -0.20 -veMarico BD Ltd-A -5.88 -5.88 1,580.60 1,580.60 1,581.00 1,580.00 0.079 57.68 27.4National Housing Fin.-B -5.45 -7.31 26.00 26.00 26.00 26.00 0.104 2.24 11.6AFC AgroBiotech-A -5.29 -5.70 57.05 57.30 60.20 57.00 2.109 3.10 18.4Matin Spinning-A -5.05 -4.10 39.97 39.50 41.50 39.10 0.174 4.27 9.4Anwar Galvanizing-B -5.03 -4.38 69.18 67.90 70.90 64.40 0.570 0.68 101.7GQ Ball PenA -4.73 -4.73 66.50 66.50 68.20 66.00 0.199 -1.68 -veNational Life I -A -4.52 -4.52 190.00 190.00 190.00 190.00 0.019 12.46 15.2C & A Textile -A -4.08 -4.17 14.25 14.10 15.00 14.00 2.486 2.47 5.8Bangladesh Welding -B -4.05 -1.71 21.82 21.30 22.60 21.00 1.508 -0.80 -ve

DSE LOSER


Aver-age (%

Change)


in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Brac B.C. Bond-A -10.78 -2.13 1010.00 1010.00 1010.00 1010.00 0.005 0.00 -Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z -8.70 -7.76 6.30 6.30 6.30 6.30 0.001 -45.17 -veMeghna PET Ind. -Z -6.67 -6.67 5.60 5.60 5.80 5.40 0.014 -0.53 -veBangladesh Welding -B -5.41 -3.86 21.41 21.00 22.60 20.90 26.835 -0.80 -veSun Life Insurance-B -5.36 -4.71 30.56 30.00 32.00 29.50 10.432 0.00 -Stylecraft -A -4.63 -3.13 968.75 953.70 960.10 950.00 0.031 56.04 17.3LR Global BD MF1-A -4.55 -3.26 6.24 6.30 6.60 6.00 21.916 0.40 15.6Anwar Galvanizing-B -4.36 -3.93 69.39 68.00 73.90 67.00 13.725 0.68 102.0Monno Ceramic -B -4.21 -2.97 43.83 43.20 45.30 42.70 2.705 0.16 273.9Legacy Footwear -A -3.82 -3.38 33.21 32.70 34.40 32.40 15.579 0.20 166.1

DSE key features October 12, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

4,164.77

Turnover (Volume)

134,768,873

Number of Contract

89,677

Traded Issues 318

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

204

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

107

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,629.80

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.88

CSE key features October 12, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

306.06

Turnover (Volume)

10,742,876

Number of Contract

13,025

Traded Issues 241

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

162

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

68

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

11

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,534.45

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.72

BUSINESS 19D


Stocks rebound on buying spreen Tribune Report

Stocks rebounded yesterday as some investors became convinced that the market had found a bottom after a three-day heavy loss.

The market opened high-er on buying spree mainly on banking stocks, which continued as days wore on with subdued previous ses-sion’s panic sale.

At the end of the day, the Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index DSEX gained 48 points or 1% to 4,776, bouncing back from its previous session’s six-week low.

The Shariah index DSES rose marginally 8 points or 0.8% to 1,144.

The blue chip comprising index DS30 was up about 19 points or 1% to 1,813.

The Chittagong Stock Ex-change Selective Category Index CSCX settled at 8,912, rising 108 points.

Unlike the previous ses-sions, almost all sectors moved upward except food and allied, and textile that dropped marginally.

Cement sector was the highest gainer, rising more than 3%, breaking steep fall in previous session.

Heavyweight banks

showed robust gain of 2.3%, driven by Brac Bank surging over 6%.

Te l e c o m m u n i c at i o n s posted a gain of 0.8%, ex-tending its gaining streak for the second straight session.

All other major sectors including power, non-bank-ing � nancial institutions, pharmaceuticals, engineer-ing and mutual fund closed higher.

Trading activities im-proved, with the DSE turn-over crossing Tk400-crore mark.

It stood at Tk420 crore, which is 23% higher over the previous session’s value.

The gainers took a lead over losers as out of 316 is-sues traded, 176 advanced, 102 declined and 38 re-mained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said as quarterly economic data is mixed, investors are focusing on earning season that is going to unfold soon.

United Commercial Bank was the most traded stocks with shares worth about Tk18 crore changing hands.

It was followed by Moz-za� ar Hossain Spinning Mills, Beximco Pharmaceu-ticals, Lafarge Surma Ce-ment, Brac Bank and Trust Bank. l

As quarterly economic data is mixed, investors are focusing on earning season that is going to unfold soon

ANALYST

Daily capital market highlightsDSE Broad Index : 12887.97420 (+) 1.02% ▲

DSE - 30 Index : 1813.58800 (+) 1.05% ▲

CSE All Share Index: 14643.21360 (+) 1.23% ▲

CSE - 30 Index : 12887.97420 (+) 1.02% ▲

CSE Selected Index : 8912.94420 (+) 1.23% ▲

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

% of Total-Turnover ClosingP Change % ClosingY DHIGH DLOW AvgPrice

FAR Chemical-A 445,295 18.58 6.07 39.80 0.76 39.50 40.70 39.50 41.72Moza� ar H.Spinning-A 369,516 15.79 5.16 43.00 4.88 41.00 43.50 40.20 42.74LafargeS Cement-A 155,615 15.29 4.99 100.10 4.38 95.90 99.90 100.00 98.23City Bank - A 510,977 10.62 3.47 20.80 2.97 20.20 21.10 20.40 20.78BEXIMCO Ltd. -A 316,332 9.42 3.08 29.70 0.00 29.70 30.20 29.60 29.77Square Pharma -A 35,250 8.55 2.79 242.90 0.12 242.60 243.50 241.50 242.49United Power-A 61,772 8.41 2.75 137.00 1.48 135.00 137.90 135.00 136.20BSRM Ltd. -A 65,889 8.38 2.74 128.70 2.96 125.00 129.50 124.00 127.22UNITED AIR-A 754,295 7.55 2.47 10.00 -0.99 10.10 10.20 9.90 10.01Brac Bank -A 146,739 7.26 2.37 50.30 6.57 47.20 50.80 47.80 49.51Beximco Pharma -A 97,576 7.20 2.35 73.90 0.96 73.20 74.00 73.20 73.75BD Submarine Cable-A 65,868 7.11 2.32 110.00 7.74 102.10 112.10 103.00 107.92IFIC Bank - A 283,060 6.76 2.21 23.90 1.70 23.50 24.20 23.60 23.88AB Bank - A 290,839 6.66 2.18 23.00 2.68 22.40 23.20 22.50 22.91Aman Feed-N 114,718 6.59 2.15 57.20 1.78 56.20 58.10 57.00 57.46

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

% of Total-Turnover ClosingP Change

% ClosingY DHIGH DLOW Avg-Price

Beximco Pharma -A 3,279,292 241.32 5.79 73.80 0.41 73.50 74.00 73.00 73.59UCBL - A 8,886,076 200.99 4.83 22.70 1.34 22.40 23.10 22.30 22.62Moza� ar H.Spinning-A 4,154,884 171.26 4.11 42.50 2.16 41.60 43.00 39.90 41.22LafargeS Cement-A 1,619,517 159.10 3.82 100.00 4.06 96.10 100.80 96.20 98.24Brac Bank -A 3,198,179 159.06 3.82 50.30 6.57 47.20 50.60 47.60 49.73Olympic Ind. -A 482,817 150.24 3.61 311.20 -1.21 315.00 318.00 310.00 311.17 Trust Bank-A 4,851,702 120.47 2.89 24.70 2.07 24.20 25.50 24.10 24.83Premier Cement-A 1,219,843 117.02 2.81 98.50 6.72 92.30 98.80 93.10 95.93City Bank - A 4,931,113 102.32 2.46 20.80 2.97 20.20 21.20 20.20 20.75SAIF Powertec-A 1,025,390 90.75 2.18 88.90 1.02 88.00 89.40 87.60 88.51BSRM Steels-A 853,139 77.88 1.87 93.00 4.73 88.80 93.40 88.50 91.29National Polymer -A 679,007 74.36 1.79 109.80 3.49 106.10 110.50 107.00 109.52Square Pharma -A 299,085 72.70 1.75 243.40 0.29 242.70 245.00 242.00 243.06IDLC Finance -A 1,160,935 71.09 1.71 61.30 0.16 61.20 61.90 60.50 61.23Grameenphone-A 231,639 61.57 1.48 265.80 0.49 264.50 267.70 264.70 265.79

BUSINESS20DT


100MW wind power station to be set up in Patuakhalin Aminur Rahman Rasel

A memorandum of Under-standing (MoU) between Power Division and Vestas-Asia-Pacif-ic Wind Technology Pvt Lim-ited was signed yesterday in order to generate green energy.

As per the MoU, Vestas will conduct Wind Resource Assessment (WRA) in two places in Patuakhali for the construction of 100MW wind turbine power plant and submit the assessment report within one year.

During the MoU signing cer-emony held at Bidyut Bhaban, Joint Secretary of the Power Division Mohammad Alauddin and head of business devel-opment unit of Vestas Navin Raghban signed on behalf of their respective organisations.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said within the next three years, the government will ensure unin-terrupted electricity supply to the industries.

He also said to ensure energy management, the government is formulating policy now.

Additional Secretary to the Power Division, Dr Ahmed Kaikaus, Secretary Monowar Islam and Chairman of Power Development Board (PDB) KM Hasan also spoke on the occasion.

PDB had installed wind mills in Kutubdia and Feni, aiming to generate 1MW pow-er while Kutubdia plant has 20KW production capacity with 50 turbines and Feni plant 225KW with four turbines.

On the other hand, the Power Division also conducted mapping of wind resources in eight places across the country with a view to assessing the possibility of power generation.

The mapping would be con-ducted in coastal zones, on-shore and inland areas -- Inani Beach of Cox’s Bazar, Sitakun-da and Anwara of Chittagong, Khepupara of Patuakhali, Mor-relgang of Bagerhat, Chandpur and Rajshahi. l

GP, UNICEF support Child Helpline extensionn Tribune Report

Mobile phone operator Grameenphone and UNICEF have signed an agreement to support extension of the “Child Help Line – 1098” programme, currently limited to the capital Dhaka, to some other parts of the country.

O� cials disclosed this at a press conference at the Westin Hotel Dhaka yesterday.

UNICEF Bangladesh Repre-sentative Edouard Beigbeder and Grameenphone’s Chief Marketing O� cer Yasir Azman, Chief Corporate A� airs O� cer Mahmud Hossain and Telenor Bangladesh Chief Representa-tive O� cer Hans Martin Hoegh Henrichsen were present ot the occasion.

The Child Help Line, � rst-ever in the country, has been providing emergency support services to children at risk throughout the capital Dhaka since 2011.

The toll-free Child Help Line number is 1098. This is a gov-ernment project implemented by the Department of Social

Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare and supported by UNICEF in collaboration with partner NGO - Aprajayo Bangladesh.

It operates a 24-hour tele-phone line and is providing emergency support services to children at risk, as well as to adults who are concerned about certain children.

The service links children with existing social protection services through rescue, safe shelter, referral and networking.

“The success of Child Help-line was so compelling that we wanted to extend its reach – to-day that has become a reality due to our collaborative part-nership with Grameenphone and the Ministry of Social Wel-fare,” said Edouard Beigbeder.

Beigbeder said more vul-nerable children would now be able to seek professional sup-port in times of need.

Based on the success of the pilot project, Grameenphone is supporting the extension of the service to more 10 upazi-las and two city corporations, including Dhaka and Khulna. l

21D

TTUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015T

-JUN

CT

ION

T-JU

NC

TIO

N

22news3 DIU students with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship

23auto-correctHow do you knowwhen to replace your shock absorbers?

24gadgetThe new Surface Pro’s � rst impressions

INSIDE

On September 20, 2015, Apollo Hospitals Dhaka announced the city-wide release of their First Aid Kit, the nation’s � rst international standard, on-the-go size � rst aid kit that combines the best in life-saving tools, design and customer-friendly features. “Consumers now look for more a� ordable and smaller portable equipment, and we’ve responded by introducing the nation’s smallest and most advanced � rst aid kit, making life-saving tools more usable and rede� ning today’s market,” said the company’s

Corporate Branding and Market Communications division. “Throughout our company, we have tried to give customers the best possible experience and bring them closer to what the international market o� ers.” For an a� ordable price, the Apollo First Aid Kit is essential for home, o� ce, travel and other medical emergencies. The kit is available for purchase at Apollo Pharmacy (Apollo Hospitals Dhaka), STS Life Care Centre (Dhanmondi) and STS Pharmacy (Sylhet). l

Appollo’s First Aid Kit introducednews

The world at your � ngertipsPhoto: Bigstock

NewsTUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015

T-JUNCTION22DT

Akhter Furnishers now in Faridpur

Brothers Furniture opens showroom in Rangpur

Akhter Furnishers Limited recently inaugurated their new showroom in Alipur in the district of Faridpur. Director of FBCCI and chairman of Akhter Group, K M Akhtaruzzaman inaugurated this outlet. On

behalf of all the guests present at the event, business associate Nasiruddin Ahmed and chief operating officer of Akhter Group Sushil Chandro Ghosh were present at the opening ceremony. l

Brothers Furniture recently opened another of their big showrooms in Rangpur. Chairman of Brothers Furniture Ltd, Alhaj Habibur Rahman Sarker formally inaugurated this showroom. Assistant manager (Marketing and Sales), Ruhul Amin, K A Murad, business associates advocate Anowarul Islam including other

officials were present at the opening ceremony. The showroom is arranged with beautiful sofa sets, almiras, bed sets, dressing tables, dining tables along with other furniture items for the house. For more details contact 01926680852 or visit www.brothersfurniture.com.bd.l

Three DIU students of Computer Science and Engineering department of Da� odil International University got an Erasmus Mundus scholarship under the EU funded Erasmus Mundus Action 2 SmartLink project (Grant Agreement 2014-0858) from 2015-2016 this year. Recently, Md Ashraful Alam and Marzan Tasnim Oyshi left for Poland to avail the scholarship at Lodz University of Technology, Poland while Zerin Nasrin Tumpa left for UK to avail the scholarship at University of the West of Scotland.

This scholarship is funded with support

from the European Commission. The mobility period of this scholarship is 10 months. The scholarship will also cover the monthly allowance for the mobility period, university fee, one return or two one-way tickets from home country to host country and return, reimbursement of visa cost including visa related mandatory health check against the original receipts after arriving in the host country and insurance certi� cate covering minimum requirements of EACEA in host country for the mobility period.l

Elite Mobile, one of the youngest but promising mobile brands in the country, has started 31 customer service centres namely Elite Care across the country. The number of Elite Care centres will increase to 43 including an addition of 12 new care centres by the � rst quarter of next year. Elite Mobile o� ers a 13 month warranty for customers for all gadgets. Besides, the nationwide Elite Care centres are ready to provide instant post sales service to the customers. The special service titled One-Day-Pick-and–Drop is available at all authorised retail shops across the country besides the Elite Care centres. The Elite Call centre is always dedicated to serve their customers, who will get an opportunity to learn about Elite Mobile handsets from the call centres seven days a week. Elite Mobile introduced the call centres before it

stepped in the market here. The Elite Care centres are located at Mirpur-10, Uttara, Gulshan, Bashundhara City in Dhaka, Savar, Chittagong, Sylhet, Mymensing, Khulna, Rajshahi, Bagura, Kishorgonj, Tangail, Narayangonj, Rangpu, Commilla, Jessor, Barisal, Feni, Bagerhat, Gazipur, Kushtia, Dinajpur, Pabna, Faridpur, Cox’s Bazar, Sirajgonj, Chapainawabgonj and Nowgaon. Regarding the service of Elite Care, Elite Mobile’s managing director Kazi Ashfaque Monir said: “We have designed our Elite Care centres for customers so that they feel privileged and get the best experience with the environment here. The customers have already appreciated the Elite Cares very positively.” He also added: “We have engaged skilled and expert engineers here to solve the problems of users within a day which usually take multi-weeks.” l

3 DIU students with an Erasmus Mundus scholarship

Elite Mobile brings 31 Elite Care centres

Unilever Bangladesh has recently announced that the company’s factory in Kalurghat, Chittagong produces zero waste to land� ll. The local unit joins the league of Unilever’s global factories, 100% of which are zero

waste to land� ll sites.The company undertook some audacious

environmental targets under the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) launched in 2010. Eliminating waste to land� ll was one

part of the plan which aims to reduce the company’s environmental impact across its value chain.

“Our factories play a major role in achieving this target. A lot of waste is generated regularly in our manufacturing processes – be it fuel waste, chemical or food waste and even packaging waste,” says Aminur Rahman, supply chain director, Unilever Bangladesh.

Over the years, Unilever Bangladesh’s Kalurghat factory has taken focused steps to transform into a zero waste-to-land� ll site. In 2015, this dream became a reality with the factory recycling and reusing all the waste that would otherwise go into land� ll.

The food waste generated on site – be it from the canteen or kitchen waste – is composted and used for gardening in and around the factory. This helps cut down the environmental impact of the waste as well as beautifying the factory surroundings.

Process waste from manufacturing glycerin has also been systematically reduced. The raw material used has been suitably changed to lower waste generation in production. The lower amount of waste produced is being recycled through several initiatives such as selling it as an input to a

low grade soap producer. As a result, glycerin waste has been eliminated completely.

The other major source of waste, raw material and packaging material waste, was reduced mainly through employee generated ideas. Ideas crowd-sourced from the employees helped reduce laminate waste alone to 50% of 2008 levels.

To learn more about the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, please visit www.unilever.com.bd. l

Tires T-JUNCTION 23D

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How do you knowwhen to replace your shock absorbers?n Tahsin Momin

Shock absorbers are basically “dampers.” The springs on a vehicle’s suspension absorb bumps from the road by compressing, and the shock absorbers are responsible for the amount of bouncing created when the springs rebound.

There are several warning signs that can tell you when shock absorbers need replacing, such as your car bottoms out over speed bumps or dips in the road or keeps bouncing way more than it usually is supposed to. However, other signs, such as excessive body lean in turns, unusual noises while going over bumps or that the front end of the car dives sharply in hard braking. The key factor here is that, since shocks wear out gradually, you might get used to a bouncier ride, a lot like getting used to longer stopping distances as brake pads wear out.

One quick way to test this is to push down hard on each corner of a vehicle; if the vehicle continues to bounce after you let go, then you need new shocks. Nonetheless, this test requires quite a bit of strength, and with many high-riding vehicles, it isn’t easy to get the leverage you need.

The wise thing to do is to have a quali� ed mechanic check your shock absorbers, preferably when your car is hoisted up on a lift. Shock absorbers are � lled with � uid, so,

the mechanic will be able to see if there are major leaks, worn mounts or bushings.

Despite the manufacturers advice to replace shocks at speci� c intervals, when you need to do it can vary by vehicle and how

and where you drive. If your daily route takes you over rough, pockmarked roads such the Dhaka streets, then that put more stress on the shock absorbers. In this case you will need to replace the shocks more often than

news

auto-correct

UBL factory scores a zero on waste

you would have had to if you drove on smoother roads. Also, keep in mind that hauling heavy loads will also wear out your shocks faster. l

TechT-JUNCTION24DT


The new Surface Pro’s � rst impressions

gadget

We take a look into the Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 4

n Mahmood Hossain

A Windows 10 hybrid is a clear evolution from its predecessor the Surface Pro 3. The lines couldn’t be blurrier in the category of tablet-turn-laptops. The � agship successor is thinner, has a lighter chassis and a larger display. And, with a nifty front-facing camera that can log you into Windows 10 in an instant.

The new Surface is set to release at the end of October, with a $899 price tag in the US. The UK will start from £749, adding the cover to it will cost £110. You might think that’s a steep price for a tablet with a detachable keyboard. While your doubts are legitimate, you’d be wrong to assume that the price is unjusti� able. They are setting this device up as a head-to-head challenge to the most recent 12-inch MacBook Pro.

The looksThe device is actually a looker. There hasn’t been a drastic change from the Surface Pro 3, but at � rst glance, it’s clear to see that it’s a premium device that held no compromise. Even the built-in kickstand for the new Surface is something that would garner an applause. The display has been slightly bumped up from 12 inches to 12.3 inches diagonally in size. The screen resolution is set to 2736x1824 (267ppi), settling in perfectly within the magnesium alloy frame. It’s 8.4mm thin and weighs in at 1.69 pounds. The latter is the weight of its Core m3 model.

There have also been improvements to the optional keyboard cover. Now redesigned, there is more separation between the keys, and actually looks and feels like a proper keyboard found in other thin laptops. The backlit keyboard is not only thinner, it also has a 40 percent larger glass precision touchpad with � ve point multitouch feature. And if you’re really in need of a � ngerprint sensor keyboard, it will cost you $30 more.

Another great addition to the Surface Pro 4 is the stylus that comes along with the device. It’s highly integrated with Windows 10. By simply clicking and holding the eraser button at the top, you’ll be able to activate Cortana, which is Microsoft’s version of Apple’s Siri. Many would argue that Microsoft’s digital assistant is more e� ective than Siri. The stylus has 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity with, what Microsoft claims, a battery that will last you an entire year.

Under the hoodThe biggest upgrade in specs are the new sixth generation Intel Core chips. These chips make the Surface Pro 4 30 percent faster and improves not only performance but also saves a great deal of the device’s battery. This is actually 50 percent faster than the MacBook Air. With that said, Microsoft also claims that the new device can last up to nine hours with its battery life, according to its o� ine video playback test on the Core i5 model.

To get a better idea of the various models and pricing take a look at this simple list:• $899 / Core m3 / 4GB of RAM / 128GB

storage• $999 / Core i5 / 4GB of RAM / 128GB

storage• $1,299 / Core i5 / 8GB of RAM / 256GB

storage• $1,599 / Core i7 / 8GB of RAM / 256GB

storage• $1,799 / Core i7 / 16GB of RAM/ 256GB

storage• $2,199 / Core i7 / 16GB of RAM/ 512GB

storage•

Keep in mind, these are the prices without the $129 keyboard cover. It’s probably a better idea to get yourself a more a� ordable alternative Bluetooth, detachable keyboard.

You will also � nd the 5-megapixel front-facing camera with Windows Hello facial recognition and an 8-megapixel rear camera. The ports you’ll � nd include the SurfaceConnect cable for power and docking, a Mini DisplayPort, a headset jack, USB 3.0 port and a microSD card reader. l

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2018 FIFA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER PREVIEW: KYRGYZSTAN V BANGLADESH

Lopez, Bangladesh brace for cold testn Shishir Hoque

A new coach at helm, an injury-struck squad and a shu� ed XI with new strategy all of a sudden are probably the last things any team demands midway through a tournament as Bangladesh will sit for a tough test in Kyr-gyzstan when they face the hosts for their � fth 2018 Fifa World Cup quali� er today. The match will kick-o� at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, at 8PM BST.

It will also be a test for newly appointed Italian head coach Fabio Lopez who vowed to change the face of the team with his style of play.

Group StandingAsian Champions Australia’s shock defeat away to Jordan last week brought changes in the table. After four matches, Jordan leap-frogged Australia to the top with 10 points, one more than the Socceroos. Bangladesh are certainly not in a battle for the top two slots and their prime objective will be to steal a point from the home team who are on � ve points. Elsewhere, Jordan will host fourth-placed Tajikistan.

Previous RecordBangladesh began their World Cup quali� er campaign against Kyrgyzstan on June 11 with a 1-3 defeat at home. However, Kyrgyzstan are win less since then while Bangladesh has never beaten or drew against them in three meetings.

Injuries And ChangesNewcomer Lopez had to deal with the � urry of injuries during the training camp recently as, as many as � ve changes will be made in the playing line-up today. Defenders Nasir Uddin

Chowdhury, Yeasin Khan, mid� elder Sohel Rana, forwards Amile, Enamul and Zahid are the players who fared in the last meeting, but are absent from the current 23-member squad.

Change In PositionBangladesh will take the � eld without their attacking trio Zahid, Amile and Sohel Rana after a long time. BJMC striker Nabib Newaz Jibon impressed Lopez and he could well be starting the game while Sajib and Shakhawat Rony will also be vying for the No 9 role. Cap-

tain and mid� elder Mamunul is likely to be deployed in his new position – right wing.

The ‘Cold’ FactorIt is very cold in Bishkek with heavy wind blowing throughout the day. The match com-missioner informed that the pitch is in poor condition due to heavy rain on Sunday night as Bangladesh were not allowed for their of-� cial practice session at the venue. Bangla-desh are most likely not to ‘chill’ in the chill-ing weather and this change in condition will cause dent in the result.

Players To WatchAnton Zemlianukhin scored two superb goals against Bangladesh in the � rst-leg by utilising the space o� ered by the Red and Green de-fenders. Jamal Bhuiyan is the only Bangladeshi player who is accustomed to play in cold conditions, thanks to his stint in Europe. The faithful de-fensive mid� elder, who also traveled to Kyr-gyzstan with his club team two months ago, is pivotal for the balancing role he plays be-tween the attack and defence. l


LEWANDOWSKI EQUALS EURO GOAL RECORD

PAKISTAN GET YASIR SCARE, FINN OUT FOR ENGLAND

26 2927

Vincent Kompany has been declared � t and is expected to return from injury to play for

Belgium in their last Euro 2016 quali� er today despite the

reservation of his club manager

FIT TO PLAY

SportNATION AWAITS SHEIKH KAMAL INT’L CLUB CUP

Bangladesh coach Fabio Lopez (C) instructs his charges during their last practice session in Kyrgyzstan on Sunday BFF

WHAT THEY SAIDFabio Lopez“Weather is very cold and that is the main problem we are facing now. We canceled the practice ses-sion due to bad weather. The players are � ne with no (more) injury. We will try our best with good motivation and I hope we will make Bangladesh fans happy.”

Mamunul Islam“We the players are mentally and physically � t.

Everybody is trying to give their best for the game. Last time when we lost 3-1 but we didn’t know much about the opponents like now. We know what is their weakness and the skilla of their players.”

Jamal Bhuyan“This is a very important match for us. Bangladesh is a very hot and humid country but it is cold here in Kyrgyzstan. Players must adapt to the weather. In this condition players need more energy.”

SPORT26DT

Nation awaits the Sk Kamal Int’l Club Cup n Shishir Hoque

The four-time Bangladesh Premier League champions Abahani Limited were pitted alongside Kolkata giants East Bengal, Paki-stan Premier League champions Karachi Elec-tric and hosts Chittagong Abahani in Pool B in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup. The draw ceremony and logo of the much an-ticipated tournament was unveiled through a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.

Meanwhile in Pool A, Dhaka powerhouse Mohammedan Sporting Club were drawn against their namesake Kolkata Mohammed-an Sporting Club, Afghan Premier League champions De Spin Ghar Bazan and Sri Lanka

Football Premier League champions Solid FC.The 10-day tournament will kick-o� from

October 20 at Chittagong's MA Aziz Stadium with Dhaka Mohammedan taking on Solid FC in the inaugural game. Kolkata's Mohammedan will face De Spin Ghar Bazan later on the day.

“The biggest love of Sheikh Kamal's life was sports. He loved football, cricket and every other sport. He was also a great sport organiser. This tournament is a great tribute to Kamal. We will do everything from our side to make it a success,” said Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin.

BFF's executive committee member Sham-sul Haque shared that Chittagong Abahani was born in this month (October 11) in 1982

and staging such an event was always their wish. “It was our long time desire to organise an international tournament after the name of Abahani founder. We want to host this tournament every year,” he said.

Champions in the competition will receive 25,000 USD while the runners-up will bag 10,000 USD. It was also revealed that 1,000 USD will be awarded to the winning team in every match while on each match-day a lucky specta-tor will win a motorbike.

Chittagong City Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin, who is also the chairman of the organising committee, BFF vice-presidents Kazi Nabil Ahmed and Badal Roy were also present dur-ing the occasion. l

Khulna stare at � rst win, Metro look to upset Dhakan Minhaz Uddin Khan

Dhaka derby poised for intense finishDespite posting 327 in the � rst innings, Dha-ka division were in a tattered position at 65 for four in the second innings with the lead stretched to 40 runs. It was all possible for the strong reply from Dhaka Metropolis who made 352 on the back of Shamsur Rahman’s 138 and Sharifullah’s late 52. Mosharraf Hos-sain bagged his third � ve-wicket haul for Dha-ka division to help them pull back their oppo-nent. Only into the third round, the left-arm spinner is now the leading wicket taker in the competition with 20 scalps.

Khulna eye win despite Saha blowRangpur’s Naeem Islamin will resume the last day with a mountain load of pressure on his shoulders. Aiming to save the match, the dis-carded Tigers batsman will get in the middle with their side reeling on 58 for six, needing 142 more to win. Khulna’s left-arm spinner caused the damage by dismissing four batsmen.

The 200-run target was set by Khulna who resumed the day on 30 without loss and man-aged 208 before getting bundled out on the back of a brilliant spell from spinner Sanjit Saha. Saha took seven wickets while being economical in 26.5 overs leaking just 64 runs.

Draw looms in ChittagongChittagong continued their domination over Barisal as the port-city side ended the third day with their opponents trailing by 122 runs in the � rst innings and a wicket to spare.

Chittagong declared after batting 30 min-utes on the day and gathered a humongous 467 for seven in their � rst innings.

However, Shahriar Nafees and Shahin Hos-sain ensured a sound start to Barisal’s innings adding 83 for the � rst wicket. Pacer Al-Amin Hossain, who batted at No 5, led scoring chart with 72 valuable runs while Salman Hossain chipped in with 51. Mohammad Saifuddin picked three wickets for the home side.

Farhad 145 puts Rajshahi aheadSeasonal campaigner Farhad Hossain’s 145 ensured Rajshahi a healthy 52-run � rst innings lead. In reply to Sylhet’s 328, Rajshahi, who started the day on 183, made 380 before despite a � ve-wicket haul from Rahatul Ferfous.

Right-handed Farhad survived 250 deliv-eries and slammed 21 boundaries in his vital knock. His heroic was complimented by Far-had Reza who added 55 to the tally. Sylhet batted eight overs in the second innings and cut the de� cit to 38 runs as they scored 14 runs without any casualties. l


GROUP AMohammedan SC, Dhaka

Mohammedan SC, KolkataDe Spin Ghar Bazan, Afghanistan

Solid FC, Sri Lanka

GROUP BAbahani Limited, Dhaka

King� sher East Bengal, KolkataKarachi Electric, Pakistan

Chittagong Abahani, Chittagong

Mosharraf Hossain bagged his third � ve-wicket haul for Dhaka division yesterday during their NCL match against Dhaka Metro at Fatullah MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

BRIEF SCORES(ROUND 2, DAY 3)

Khulna v Rangpur, SANSKhulna (211 & 208)Rangpur 220 & 58/6, Razzak 4/44Dhaka v Dhaka Metropolis, KSOASDhaka 327/10 & 65/4, Raqibul 21*Dhaka Metro 352/10 (1st innings)Chittagong v Barisal, ZACSChittagong 467/7 (1st innings)Barisal 345/9 (1st innings)Al Amin 72, Saifuddin 3/59Sylhet v Rajshahi, SCSSylhet 328/10 & 14/0Rajshahi 380/10 (1st innings), Farhad 145

ICC support BCB's demand of more gamesZimbabwe likely to arrive early November n Mazhar Uddin

It was a fruitful meeting at the International Cricket Council headquarters as far as Bang-ladesh is concerned. The Bangladesh Cricket Board was duly supported by the ICC chief ex-ecutive o� cer David Richardson when the Ti-gers cricket body urged for more international matches in the coming year.

According to BCB media committee chair-man Jalal Younus, ICC responded positively after BCB showed logic to their demand of playing more Test matches. The ICC board

meeting, that started on October 9, will end today in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia chief exec-utive o� cer James Sutherland once again apologised for pulling out from their tour to Bangladesh and promised to reschedule the commitment at the best time available to them in future. However, Jalal believes there is no chance of the Aussies arriving here be-fore April next year.

“I spoke to our board president and he in-formed that the ICC's chief executive o� cer also supported our proposal and he thinks

that we should play more matches after our recent performance,” Jalal informed the me-dia at the BCB o� ce yesterday.

Jalal said that they had prepared their log-ic behind their urge, as Bangladesh play less matches compared to the top � ve teams, and chalked out the FTP (Future Tour Program) which made their presentation more accept-able to the attendees.

The possibilities of hosting Zimbabwe for a brief one-day international bilateral series in the � rst week of November is also very strong while West Indies also has a possibility of join-

ing the party and turning it into a three-nation competition.

“Zimbabwe will be busy till the 29th of this month as they are playing a series at the mo-ment while we have our BPL starting from No-vember 20. Which means we have a window from the � rst week of November till 20th and we are willing to play during their gap. An ODI series is more likely,” Jalal said.

Bangladesh hosted the last two editions of the Asia Cup but chances of a hat-trick are slim as India are interested to welcome the upcoming edition. l

SPORT 27D

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Hosts lead CAB U-17Bangladesh Under-17 took a slim two-run � rst innings lead after day two against their Cricket Association of Bengal counterpart at BKSP yesterday. CAB added just four to their over-night 198 for seven as Sharif Islam, Mohammad Rony, Foysal Ahmed and Nowshad Iqbal shared eight wickets for the home side. Bangladesh put a strong reply with Mahmudul Hasan (56), Ratul Khan (43) and Aminul Islam (41) contrib-uting in their 204 for four. Shamim Patwari (27) and Akbar Ali (4) will resume the third and � nal day for the home side.

TRIBUNE DESK

Warner, Johnson back in Aussie Test camp trainingInjured opener David Warner along with front-line pacemen Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazle-wood will join a 19-man Australia squad when it begins preparations for a three-Test home se-ries against New Zealand in Sydney on Tuesday. Cricket Australia said Monday the squad will include the 15 players that were meant to travel to Bangladesh for an aborted two-Test series this month plus Warner, Hazlewood, Johnson and speedster Nathan Coulter-Nile.

AFP

South Africa � ned for slow over-rate in IndiaSouth Africa have been � ned for a slow over-rate during their � rst one-day international in India, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said yesterday. Match referee Chris Broad of England found the tourists fell two overs short in the stipulated time during their tense � ve-run win at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Sunday, the ICC said in a statement.

AFP

Tenants make ‘bizarre’ video of Pistorius houseTwo South African men who rent the house where Oscar Pistorius shot his girlfriend have made an Internet video of the room where the crime took place and boasted of the property’s potential for holding parties. Local media report-ed on Monday that David Scott, 33, and Kagiso Mokoape, 23, were busines partners who leased the large house in Pretoria where Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. “This is de� nitely an entertainer’s house. Oscar built this house to entertain,” Scott said on the YouTube video.

AFP

QUICK BYTES

Ten Sports 10:00AM ATP: Shanghai Rolex Masters Round 1, Day 2 Ten Cricket12:00PM England Tour of Pakistan (UAE)1st Test, Day 1 Star Sports 27:30PM Indian Super League KolKata v Kerala

DAY’S WATCH

Agents ruining Brazil stars, says Pelen AFP, Kolkata

Brazil still produces the world’s best foot-ballers but the growing in� uence of agents on leading players has created a mountain of woes for the national side, Pele said Monday.

The legendary Brazilian, the only player to feature in three World Cup-winning teams, said the passion for football was as strong as ever but acknowledged the “Selecao” were struggling with a host of problems.

“We have not lost passion for football,” Pele said in the eastern city of Kolkata at the start of a visit to India.

“Individually we have the best players but as a team we’ve a lot of problems.

“In my time the players belonged to clubs but today players are managed by their agents,” Pele was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India news agency. l

Pakistan get Yasir scare, Finn out for Englandn AFP, Abu Dhabi

Pakistan’s chances of defeating England in Tuesday’s opening Test match in Abu Dha-bi su� ered a blow on Monday when key leg-spinner Yasir Shah su� ered a back spasm during practice.

The 29-year-old Shah stumbled in his fol-low-through and apparently hurt his back.

“Yasir’s injury is a concern and could be a jolt,” skipper Misbah-ul-Haq told a press conference on Monday. “We are looking into it and hope that he is okay by tomorrow morning.”

Pakistan are relying heavily on Shah and fel-low left-arm spinner Zul� qar Babar to win the

three-match series in the United Arab Emirates.Shah took 24 wickets in Pakistan’s 2-1 win

in the Tests in Sri Lanka in July and was seen as the dangerman for England, who were routed 3-0 by spinners Saeed Ajmal and Ab-dul Rehman here in 2012.

“Obviously he (Shah) is a key player for us but we are hoping for the best,” said Misbah. “We are looking into calling one of the two left-arm spinners who played in the warm-up game in Sharjah.”

Younis set for recordAzhar’s absence will put more pressure on Younis Khan, Misbah and Sarfraz Ahmed to shoulder the batting.

Younis amassed 468 runs against Australia and hit a match-winning 171 not out in Paki-stan’s last Test in Sri Lanka, leaving him just 19 behind Pakistan’s highest tally of 8,832 set by Javed Miandad.

Pakistan have been forced to play in the UAE due to security fears at home but have never lost a series here, winning four and drawing three.

Misbah admitted England are more pre-pared this time.

“I think they are more prepared and know what mistakes they committed the last time so we need to also focus and improve our per-formance. We have to be at our best to be up there.” l

Vettori to help England spinnersn AFP, Dubai

England on Monday announced that New Zealand great Daniel Vettori is to help the country’s up-and-coming spinners in Dubai in an attempt to groom young slow bowlers for the future.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced over 20 English spin bowlers will play and train overseas this winter.

“Seven promising spinners will follow Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Samit Patel to the UAE this autumn, when their coaches on the England Performance Programme (EPP) will include the former New Zealand captain Dan-iel Vettori,” said the ECB release.

Vettori, who took more than 700 wickets in international cricket, has already made a successful move into coaching in Twenty20 leagues in India and Australia.

“Vettori will join the group led by Andy Flower, in Dubai for 10 days in November.”

England have traditionally struggled against spinners in South Asia, losing 3-0 to Pakistan in United Arab Emirates in 2012.

They are also up against spinners in their three-match series against Pakistan starting in Abu Dhabi from Tuesday.

EPP spin bowling coach Peter Such wel-comed Vettori’s signing. lYasir Shah su� ered a back injury during Pakistan’s training session at Abu Dhabi yesterday

Brazilian football legend Pele (R) and co-owner of Atletico De Kolkata club Sourav Ganguly pose for photographs during an event in Kolkata, India yesterday. Pele is in Kolkata for a three-day visit and will also � y to the capital New Delhi to attend the Subroto Cup football � nal match AP

28DT SPORT

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 Rugby World CupPOOL A

P W D L BP Pts

1 AUSTRALIA (Q) 4 4 0 0 1 17

2 WALES (Q) 4 3 0 1 1 13

3 ENGLAND 4 2 0 2 3 11

4 FIJI 4 1 0 3 1 5

5 URUGUAY 4 0 0 4 0 0

POOL B P W D L BP Pts

1 S AFRICA (Q) 4 3 0 1 4 16

2 SCOTLAND (Q) 4 3 0 1 2 14

3 JAPAN 4 3 0 1 0 12

4 SAMOA 4 1 0 3 2 6

5 USA 4 0 0 4 0 0

POOL C P W D L BP Pts

1 N ZEALAND (Q) 4 4 0 0 3 19

2 ARGENTINA (Q) 4 3 0 1 3 15

3 GEORGIA 4 2 0 2 0 8

4 TONGA 4 1 0 3 2 6

5 NAMIBIA 4 0 0 4 1 1

POOL D P W D L BP Pts

1 IRELAND (Q) 4 4 0 0 2 18

2 FRANCE (Q) 4 3 0 1 2 14

3 ITALY 4 2 0 2 2 10

4 ROMANIA 4 1 0 3 0 4

5 CANADA 4 0 0 4 2 2

Japan’s Amanaki Ma� scores a try against United States of America in their IRB Rugby World Cup Pool B match in England on Sunday REUTERS

Japan become � rst to exit World Cup with three pool winsn Reuters, Gloucester

Having begun in the most dramatic and en-capsulating fashion, Japan’s Rugby World Cup campaign ended on Sunday with a 28-18 vic-tory over the United States that left them as the � rst team to win three pool stage games and go out.

Tries from Kotaro Matsushima, Yoshikazu Fujita and Amanaki Ma� helped earn a another well-deserved victory, but the occasion in Gloucester was the ultimate anti-climax,

coming three weeks after they shocked the tournament by beating South Africa.

Despite falling to their fourth defeat, the U.S. were no pushovers and ended their own campaign with a spirited perfor-mance as tries from Takudzwa Ngwenya and Chris Wyles kept them in the contest throughout.

Scotland’s victory over Samoa on Saturday had ensured that Japan, who will host the tournament in 2019, could � nish no better than third in Pool B, and they ended two

points adrift of the Scots and four behind group winners South Africa.

“It’s disappointing but we had a great World Cup. We played as well as we can to-day,” Japan coach Eddie Jones said.

“It has been fantastic. The guys have all played above themselves and worked hard and with a real spirit and how rugby should be played.”

Following the advent of � ve-team groups in 2003, no team had won three of their four pool stage encounters and not progressed to

the next round.Yet Japan’s failure to pick up bonus points

in any of their matches and their tired defeat to Scotland four days after their Springbok shock proved to be their undoing and ensured there was nothing but pride to play for at the Kingsholm Stadium.

That and another opportunity to show-o� their well-honed technical skills and remind everyone how far they have pro-gressed having won only one game in all their previous World Cup campaigns. l

POOL PHASE AWARDSBest player

Nothing eclipsed Japan’s win over South Africa in Brighton for shock value, and no one contributed more to that sensational result than Ayumu Go-romaru. The full-back did not even make his

country’s squad four years ago but has been a rock for the Brave Blossoms, scoring 24 of his side’s 34 points against the Springboks, including a wonder-fully-worked try in the right corner. Now 29 years old, he made his international debut a decade ago but is � nally ful� lling his huge potential under Eddie Jones’s stewardship.

Best tryFor swashbuckling style, Vereniki Goneva’s try for

Fiji against Wales stood out, Asaeli Tikoirotuma dummying away from his own 22 and starting a slalom run that scattered the defence before � nd-ing his fellow wing Timoci Nagusa with a basketball pass. Nagusa ran diagonally, leaving tacklers in his trail, before freeing Goneva with an inside pass.

Best tackleScotland dominated, stopping Japan where South Africa had let them through and hurting them with concerted drives. As half-time approached, it was clear the game would soon be up.

Japan had every reason to save themselves for games they could win against Samoa and the USA. Scotland, on the stroke of the interval, created an

overlap and their wing, Tommy Seymour head-ed for the corner. Then came the second act of de� ance. Ayumu Goromaru made the tackle of his life, hitting Seymour at full speed and at full stretch and putting him out of play. Japan would lose otherwise.

Best fansThe Scots in Newcastle were wonderful if only for their staying power, but the memory of the pool stages is the Shed, normally so Cherry and White, turning pale blue and white for

the day when Argentina met Georgia in Gloucester. The Pumas ran in six second-half tries, before their supporters showed the locals how to celebrate.

Funniest momentJamie Cudmore at-tempting to in� ltrate the French lineout huddle. He brings what might euphe-mistically be called an aggressive physicality to his work. That’s what made it par-

ticularly delicious when he decided to take a more subtle approach against France. The French-speak-ing Canadian, one of the few players in the World Cup who can decode their lineout calls, found an opportunity to wander oh-so-innocently into their discussions, sticking his head into their huddle as if he was just another team-mate. He was getting away with it too – until the TV cameras captured a French arm reaching out from o� -screen and enthusiastically plucking him away.

SPORT 29D

T


RESULTSGermany 2-1 Georgia Mueller 50-pen, Kruse 79 Kankava 53

Gibraltar 0-6 Scotland C. Martin 25, Maloney 39, S. Fletcher 52, 56, 85, Naismith 90+1

Poland 2-1 Rep IrelandKrychowiak 13, Walters 16-penLewandowski 42

Faroe Islands 0-3 Romania Budescu 4, 45+1, Maxim 83

Finland 1-1 Nor Ireland Arajuuri 87 Cathcart 31

Greece 4-3 HungaryStafylidis 5, Tachtsidis 57, Lovrencsics 26, Mitroglou 79, Kone 86 Nemeth 54, 86

Armenia 0-3 Albania K. Hovhannisyan 9-og, Xhimshiti 23, Sadiku 76

Serbia 1-2 PortugalTosic 65 Nani 5, Joao Moutinho 78

Robert Lewandowski scored his 13th goal of the Euro 2016 quali� ers to equal Northern Ireland striker David Healy’s record for most goals in a qualifying campaign on Sunday AP

Germany, Poland head to Euro 2016, play-o� s for Irelandn AFP, Paris

World champions Germany secured their place at Euro 2016 despite labouring to a 2-1 win at home to Georgia on Sunday, while Po-land also quali� ed for next summer’s � nals after beating the Republic of Ireland 2-1.

Germany needed just a point against Georgia in Leipzig to guarantee themselves a top-two � nish in Group D but Max Kruse’s 79th-minute winner ensured Joachim Loew’s men progressed as group winners.

Thomas Mueller had given Germany the lead shortly after half-time, converting a pen-alty for his ninth goal in the quali� ers, before it was cancelled out almost immediately by Jaba Kankava.

Robert Lewandowski equalled former Northern Ireland striker David Healy’s 13-goal record for a single European Championship qualifying campaign as Poland claimed sec-ond place in Group D.

Grzegorz Krychowiak netted a 13th-min-ute opener for the Poles in Warsaw before Jon Walters levelled from the penalty spot shortly after.

But Lewandowski’s 15th goal in his last six matches won it for the home side, consigning the Irish, who saw John O’Shea sent o� late on, to November’s play-o� s.

In the group’s other game, Steven Fletcher scored a hat-trick as Scotland � nished their unsuccessful campaign with a 6-0 mauling of Gibraltar in Portugal. l

GROUP D GP W D L GD Pts

1 Germany (Q) 10 7 1 2 15 22

2 Poland (Q) 10 6 3 1 23 21

3 Rep Ireland 10 5 3 2 12 18

4 Scotland 10 4 3 3 10 15

5 Georgia 10 3 0 7 -6 9

6 Gibraltar 10 0 0 10 -54 0

GROUP F GP W D L GD Pts

1 Nor Ireland (Q) 10 6 3 1 8 21

2 Romania (Q) 10 5 5 0 9 20

3 Hungary 10 4 4 2 2 16

4 Finland 10 3 3 4 -1 12

5 Faroe Islands 10 2 0 8 -11 6

6 Greece 10 1 3 6 -7 6

GROUP I GP W D L GD Pts

1 Portugal (Q) 8 7 0 1 6 21

2 Albania (Q) 8 4 2 2 5 14

3 Denmark 8 3 3 2 3 12

4 Serbia 8 2 1 5 -5 4

5 Armenia 8 0 2 6 -9 2

MOST GOALS SCORED IN A EURO QUALIFYING COMPETITION

13 Robert Lewandowski, Poland (Euro 2016); David Healy, Northern Ireland (Euro 2008)

12 Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Netherlands (Euro 2012); Davor Suker, Croatia (Euro 1996)

11 Raul, Spain (Euro 2000); Toni Polster, Austria (Euro 1996); Ole Madsen, Denmark (Euro 1964)

10 Eduardo, Croatia (Euro 2008); Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria (Euro 1996); Darko Pancev, Macedonia (Euro 1992)

DOWNTIME30DT


CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

DILBERT

How to solve: 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 number repeating.

CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

CODE-CRACKER

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a di� erent letter of the alphabet. For example, today 6 represents I so � ll I every time the � gure 6 appears.You have two letters in the control grid to start you o� . Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.As you get the letters, � ll in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check o� the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

CROSSWORD

ACROSS1 Untidy state (4)6 Spinning toy (3)7 Conceal (4)9 Close up (4)10 Communion plate (5)11 Gemstone (5)12 Flightless bird (3)14 Postpone (5)17 Coarse � les (5)20 Period of time (3)21 Angry (5)23 Punctuation mark (5)25 Footwear (4)26 Single entity (4)27 Melody (3)28 Wise man (4)

DOWN1 Teacher (6)2 Social standing (6)3 Alone (4)4 Humour (3)5 Marsh (3)7 Thin mist (4)8 Discourage (5)10 Cushion (3)13 Worker in stone (5)15 Trilby hat (6)16 Disconcert (6)18 Scheme (4)19 Wrongdoing (3)22 Wading bird (4)23 Drinking vessel (3)24 Ignited (3)

SUDOKU

SHOWTIME 31D


Shokh and Mosharrafteamed up for new TV serial

n Showtime Desk

Mosharraf Karim and Shokh have paired up for another TV serial which went to the � oor recent-ly. The family drama titled Ei Kuley Ami Ar Oi Kuley Tumi features an unusual role for Moshar-raf Karim, the actor reputed for his charismatic quality to play versatile roles on TV.

Directed by Sagor Jahan, the TV serial’s shooting recently commenced at a shooting spot in Uttara in the capital.

Apart from the duo, the serial’s cast con-sists of familiar faces of TV including Tania Ahmed, Intekhab Dinar, Badhon and Faruk Ahmed among others.

Talking about the character to be played by Mosharraf Karim, the director said that the actor this time has donned a role of a powerful man in a locality and everybody around him addresses him as “Bhai,” as a sign of both respect and fear. He can do whatever he wants but only one person in the world can make him paci� ed and she is none other than Bar-nana, the character played by Shokh.

In the last few years, Sagor Jahan has worked on a number of TV serials specially aired during the Eid holidays. Sikandar Box is one of those TV ventures. His third TV serial is shceduled to be aired very soon on a TV channel. l

WHAT TO WATCH

n Showtime Desk

Renowned classical � autist Ustad Azizul Islam, mesmerised his audience with the ravishing melodies of his � ute during a solo instrumental musical evening at the auditorium of National Museum. The event was organised by the museum authorities.

After receiving his special tribute, Ustad Azizul Islam started with Raag Kirwani, then performed Got and � nally ended his repertoire with Jhinjhoti. Syed Meher Hussain and Jahangir Alam provided

accompaniment on tabla and tanpura, respectively.

Ustad Azizul Islam is a famous subcontinental classical � autist, who devoted himself to classical music for 50 years.

Dr Ranjit Kumar Biswas, former cultural secretary, M Azizur Rahman, president of the trustees, and Faizul Latif Chowdhury, director general of the National Museum of Bangladesh were present at the programme, which was also attended by renowned cultural and educational personalities. l

An enchanting evening with Ustad Azizul Islam n Showtime Desk

Tay Tay recently channelled her inner Cinderella for the cover shoot of Vogue Australia’s November issue. Sporting a sheer beautiful, blue Schiaparelli haute couture dress with a plunging neckline, Swift was photographer by Emma Summerton and styled by fash-ion director Christina Centenera. With minimal make-up on and a dress that compliments her natural eye colour, the 25-year-old pop sensation contin-ues to be the empowering role model by appearing on the Vogue cover for the fourth time. l

Sophisticated Swift never out of style

EXHIBITION

Organic Cityby Kazi Salahuddin AhmedPainting ExhibitionLa Galerie October 13-31

TV SHOW

Jibon Jekhane JemonChannel i, 6:15pmPresented by Tarana Halim, the programme showcases tales of society’s disfavoured groups of people.

MOVIES

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, 3.5/5HBO, 6:52pmJack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to � nd the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Ian McShane, Kevin R. McNally, Geo� rey Rush, Keith Richards

Eragon, 3/5Star Movies, 1pm

In his homeland of Alagaesia, a farm boy happens upon a dragon’s egg - a discovery that leads him on a predestined journey where he realises he’s the one person who can defend his home against an evil king.Cast: Ed Speleers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Djimon Hounsou

Kung Fu Panda, 4/5 Zee Studio, 5:45pmIn the Valley of Peace, Po the Panda � nds himself chosen as the Dragon Warrior despite the fact that he is obese and a complete novice at martial arts.Cast: Jack Black (Po), Dustin Ho� man (Shifu), Angelina Jolie (Tigress), Jackie Chan (Monkey), Lucy Liu (Viper)

BACK PAGE32DT


AN EVENING WITH USTAD AZIZUL ISLAM PAGE 31

BB: NO BANK LOAN UNLESS JUTE BAG USED PAGE 15

LOPEZ, BANGLADESH BRACE FOR COLD TEST PAGE 25

Salinity-triggered migration now alarmingn Abu Bakar Siddique

Population growth rates in some of the worst salinity-hit coastal districts of Bangladesh have become negative, coupled with a stag-gering growth in slums, points at a mass exo-dus of agro-based people towards urban areas.

The alarming intrusion of salinity into vast tracts of arable land in these districts can be directly linked to the global climate change – the climbing world temperature and the con-sequent rise in sea level.

The last population census conducted in 2011 says the average population growth rate was 1.47, which 10 years ago was 1.58.

However, compared to this � gure, the worst victim districts of salinity display nega-tive population growth rate – Jhalakathi -0.17, Barisal -0.13, Khulna -0.25 and Bagerhat -0.47.

In fact, rates in most other districts in the coastal belt have also drastically fallen.

During the same period, the slums in the urban areas have in� ated. Experts say a major portion of the new slum population comprise of displaced people from some of these districts.

The government has achieved some degree of success in controlling overall population growth during 2001-2011 which is re� ected in the falling average rate. But there is no reason to think that negative growth rates in these dis-tricts indicates greater success in birth control.

In fact, salinity intrusion triggered by ris-ing sea level has badly a� ected vast stretches of arable land in coastal districts, rendering signi� cant portions completely barren.

For example, in Khulna and Bagerhat, 148,000 and 131,000 hectares of land respec-tively have been a� ected by salinity. Of these, 79,000 hectares in Khulna and 62,000 hec-tares in Bagerhat are turned completely bar-ren – meaning nothing can be grown there.

As a result, a large section of people had nothing to do but migrate to the cities and live in sub-human conditions in the slums of Dhaka and Chittagong.

Hydrology expert Prof Ainun Nishat said: “The fall in population growth rate in these areas does not mean birth rate has been lower. Rather, it points at massive internal migration of people who seek employment because eco-nomic activities, especially agriculture, have been severely a� ected by gradually increas-ing salinity in the regions’ water and land.”

According to the Census of Slum Areas and Floating Population 2014, there has been a 77% rise in the number of slum households from 1997 to 2014. Over the same period, the number of slums increased by a 366%.

Urban planner and slum researcher Prof Nazrul Islam said: “Migration from coastal dis-tricts like Khulna, Shatkhira and Bagerhat to the urban areas is a new trend triggered by a loss of livelihood because of salinity intrusion.”

Case 1Having fought nearly a decade with salinity, Sirajul Islam Morol, a 50-year-old farmer from Shatkhira, eventually moved to Dhaka with

his � ve-member family in 2011.Now he pulls rickshaw and lives in a 100

sq-ft shanty in Doaripara slum in Mirpur.Back home, he still owns a two-acre land

on which he used to cultivate paddy and shift-ed to shrimp after salinity rose. At one point, even cultivating shrimp became impossible.

“Everything is a� ected by salinity – from agricultural land to drinking water – everything,” said a frustrated Sirajul.

“If everything was okay back at home, I would have never come to Dhaka. The life I am leading now is frustrating and disgraceful. We now share a toilet and kitchen with 15 oth-er families,” he said with eyes suddenly nos-talgic with the memories of an a� uent past.

Case 2Sha� qul Islam, 50, is another climate dis-placed from Bagerhat, who came to Dhaka three months ago. He also pulls rickshaw for earning a living for his four-member family who lives in the Shat-Tola slum in Dhaka.

“Even 10/15 years ago, scarcity of drinking

water was not so acute. My wife brought wa-ter from a pond located 500m from our home-stead. But in recent years, salinity has made water in that pond unusable,” said Sha� qul when asked he had migrated to Dhaka.

“The one-acre land I own back at home had been turned completely futile in just a few years. Not crop can be grown there. Ten years ago, I used go grow paddy. But as salini-ty crept in, I shifted to shrimp. But in the last two years, that too became hard.

“In the last one year, a Tk1.32 lakh invest-ment fetched me only Tk3,000. That was the last nail in the co� n, leaving me with no op-tion but to migrate to Dhaka,” Sha� qul said.

Way outThe 5th Assessment Report of the Inter-gov-ernmental Panel on Climate Change puts Bangladesh as being at speci� c risk from cli-mate change.

Climate expert Saleemul Huq said there are both economic and climatic reasons behind the internal migration and displacement.

“People are migrating due to a lack of fresh water source, erratic weather and salinity.”

One way of giving this huge populace their likelihood back could be developing salini-ty tolerant crops, particularly rice. However, researchers say none of the existing varieties of rice can stand the level of salinity that has a� ected some of the coastal districts.

Jiban Krishna Biswas, director general of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, said pad-dy can be made tolerant to up to 12dS/M salin-ity. But studies showed that the level in over half of the arable lands in � ve coastal districts have gone well past that level.

Another way out could be reducing salinity in the coastal rivers by increasing the � ow of sweet water from the upstream.

Prof Nishat said: “Since the 70s, after the Farakka Barrage was built, Bangladesh never got enough water in the lean period. If we got more water in the Ganges basin, the coastal riv-ers would have got more sweet water and thus, over a period of a few years, the excess salinity could be washed away from agro-land.” l

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

2.28

5.21

3.843.48

3.05

2.16

1.391.59

0.851.10 1.27 1.28

2.60 2.642.25

2.55

GAZIPUR DHAKA NARAYANGANJ NARSHINGDI MUNSHIGANJ MYMENSINGH BANDARBAN COX'S BAZAR

National Average Growth Rate 1.47

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

JHALOKATI PIROJPUR BHOLA BARISAL PATUAKHALI BARGUNA KHULNA BAGERHAT SATKHIRA

0.41

-0.17

0.44

0.02

1.44

0.42

0.65

1.38

0.49

0.90

0.50

1.70

0.790.62

1.56

-0.13-0.25

-0.47

COASTAL DISTRICTS WITH FALLING POPULATION GROWTH RATE

DISTRICTS WITH HIGHEST POPULATION GROWTH RATE

ASMAUL HOQUE MAMUN/DT INFOGRAPHICSource: Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics

2001 2011

IMPACT OF SALINITY ON AGRICULTURE

Patuakhali

Satkhira

Khulna

Bagerhat

Barguna

155,000

153,000

148,000

131,000

95,000

62,000

99,000

79,000

62,000

38,000

District Totala�ected

agro-land(hectares)

Totallybarren

land(hectares)

SALINITY-TRIGGERED INTERNAL MIGRATION TREND

Source: Bangladesh Soil Resource Development Institute

URBAN SLUM GROWTH

Source: Census of Slum Areas and Floating Population 2014 (BBS)

From 1997 to 2014

Slum Growth

366%Slum Household Growth

77%

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 O� ce: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: [email protected], [email protected], Website: www.dhakatribune.com

13 oct, 2015

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