PAGE 4Top power plant falters during peak season

PAGE 3Who is your future mayor?

PAGE 32Indian police detain 4 Bangladeshis in nun gangrape case

PAGE 5HSC, equivalent exams begin today

CITY POLLS CANDIDATES COME UNDER SCRUTINY TODAY PAGE 3

BRTA OFFICIAL’S WIFE KILLED,3 MORE INJURED PAGE 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015 | Chaitra 18, 1421, Jamadius Sani 11, 1436 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 356 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 8-page Treehouse | Price: Tk10

Blogger murders may be linkedOne of the two attackers was arrested earlier as member of the banned out� t JMBn Mohammad Jamil Khan

The detectives are suspecting that the killers and mastermind of attacks on two bloggers Oyasiqur Rahman Babu and Avijit Roy might belong to the same extremist group.

“Oyasiqur, who was not a regular blog writer, started giving posts on Facebook con-demning the murder of Avijit. The two killers held red-handed said in interrogation that they killed Oyasiqur for his anti-Islamic writ-ings [protesting the murder of an atheist],” Monirul Islam, the DMP joint commissioner and spokesperson, said yesterday.

Oyasiqur was an admirer of Avijit. After the attack on Avijit and his wife – both US cit-izens – on February 26, Oyasiqur as his pro� le picture used a photo having written #iamavi-jit while his cover photo saying #WordsCan-notBeKilled. He also expressed frustration in many posts since there was no progress in that case.

On his Facebook account, Oyasiqur wrote regularly opposing irrational religious beliefs, superstitions and radical Islamists, particu-larly Jamaat-e-Islami. In 2013, as a supporter of Shahbagh movement, he protested among others the arrest of four bloggers on charges of hurting religious sentiment.

Meanwhile, detectives say they have found involvement of a “sleeper cell” in the attack on Oyasiqur. Although three people directly

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Ruling alliance partners not on same pagen Abu Hayat Mahmud and Tarek Mahmud

Awami League-led 14-party alliance is yet to reach a consensus over whether the partners will support common candidates or make in-dividual endorsements in the upcoming city polls.

Partners made con� icting remarks on the issue after a meeting yesterday in which the alliance was supposed to make a decision in this regard.

Ruling party’s presidium member and al-liance spokesperson Mohammad Nasim told reporters after the meeting that the partners were going to support the three mayor aspir-ants that alliance chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had selected.

However, when contacted, Sharif Nurul

Ambia, general secretary of Awami League’s partner Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), told the Dhaka Tribune last night that no such deci-sion had been made as yet.

“I was in the meeting, but not at the press conference. I have no idea why Nasim Bhai said that,” he said.

Ambia also said: “No de� nitive decision was made in the meeting about single candi-dates. We discussed what our strategy should be for the polls. If BNP comes, 14-party will back common candidates, but that will not happen without discussions. If BNP does not then the partners can make their own deci-sions.”

He said JSD is backing actor Nader Chowd-hury in the north of Dhaka and Shahidul Islam in the south. Both of them are involved with

the politics of JSD, which is led by Informa-tion Minister Hasanul Haque Inu.

Reserved female MP Shirin Akhter, also a presidium member of JSD, was present at the press conference but she did not oppose Nasim.

In the press conference, Nasim said that the 14-party alliance partners were also going to extend their support to the ward level can-didates that Sheikh Hasina would � nalise.

Hasina, also Awami League president, has already endorsed business tycoon Annisul Huq, former FBCCI and BGMEA president, for mayor of Dhaka north; Sayeed Khokon in the south; and AJM Nasir Uddin, general secre-tary of Awami League’s Chittagong city unit, for Chittagong.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Law enforcers take Zikrullah and Ariful – two alleged killers of blogger Oyasiqur – to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court yesterday seeking 10-day remand in the murder case MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Captors of Oyasiqur’s killers fear being namedn Adil Sakhawat

A day after two trangendered people helped to capture two of Oyasiqur Rahman Babu’s three killers, the Begunbari transgender com-munity to which they belong yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the duo would not be publicly identi� ed for fear of reprisals.

Two third-gender people, helped by other Begunbari residents, succeeded in capturing alleged killers, Jikrullah and Ariful Islam, be-fore handing them over to police.

Oyasiqur was brutally hacked to death by three Islamist extremists wielding machetes.

PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Today with Dhaka Tribune

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Blogger murders may be linkedtook part in Monday’s attack, the investiga-tors suspect that at least three to four other people were present around the spot to cover the assailants.

Such kind of silent killing is usually car-ried out by radical Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team where the executors remain in the dark about their superiors – mastermind or coordinator. Detained Zikrullah and Ari-ful Islam could give names of only two other people who they had met the day before the attack.

Ansarullah members were earlier found to be involved in the murder of blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider. Detectives suspect that secular writer Avijit was killed by members of a simi-lar sleeper cell.

Zikrullah and Arif said they had been in-structed to kill Oyasiqur upon an order by their spiritual leader Masum to protect Islam.

Monirul said Masum, which could be a fake name, might have coordinated the attack.

In Avijit killing case, investigators suspect Ansarullah member Redwanul Azad Rana, also charge sheeted accused in Rajeeb murder case, as the coordinator. He is currently on the run.

It is learnt that Ansarullah had prepared a hit list of 84 people including noted bloggers who had taken part in the Shahbagh move-ment of 2013. Of them, at least eight people were killed in the last two years.

Monirul said they were suspecting An-sarullah for the attack on Oyasiqur as the or-ganisation after several murder incidents had claimed responsibilities on websites and so-cial media platforms.

“Interrogating the duo, we are trying to � nd Ansaullah’s link to the attacks on Oyas-iqur and Avijit,” said Monirul, who is also the chief of DB police.

The detectives also found that Zikrullah had been arrested earlier in Narsingdi as a JMB member. It could not be con� rmed whether he still was involved with the murder.

Meanwhile, Zikrullah and Arif were taken into police custody yesterday after a court granted eight-day remand in the case, � led by Oyasiqur’s brother-in-law Monir Hossain Masud.

Inspector Mizanur Rahman of Tejgaon in-dustrial police, also investigation o� cer of the case, placed the duo before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Younus Khan seeking 10-day remand.

During the hearing, Zikrullah told the court: “Although we were involved in the murder of Oyasiqur, we do not know anything about Avijit killing. Oyasiqur was killed for making defamatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Facebook which hurt us.

“But the person, who attacked the blogger [Oyasiqur] directly, � ed the scene

immediately.”He claimed that Abu Taher had hacked

Oyasiqur and � ed the scene. He also said they had carried out the attack under the directives of Masum.

However, the police found two of the three machetes to have blood stains.

Monirul said the arrestees during the in-terrogation only said they had attacked the blogger from religious responsibility and also claimed it to be their � rst killing.

“The two arrestees are not expert in inter-net, blogging or Facebook. We can easily un-derstand that someone might have instructed them to commit the murder. This case may give us a breakthrough to solve any other pre-vious killings,” he added.

Of the arrestees, police earlier claimed that Zikrullah was a student of Hathazari Madrasa in Chittagong – run by radical Islamist plat-form Hefazat-e-Islam, while Arif from Mirpur Darul Uloom Madrasa.

Hathazari madrasa authorities, however, claimed that Zikrullah was not their student.

Monirul said they were yet to con� rm Zikrullah’s studentship at Hathazari madrasa.

Visiting Darul Uloom Madrasa, the Dhaka Tribune reporter found that Arif was a second year aleem (HSC equivalent) student.

He had applied for 12 days’ sick leave on December 29 last year but did not join the class later. l

Captors of Oyasiqur’s killers fear being namedThe heroines of the day now fear for their lives. Members of their community told the Dhaka Tribune that if their names are pub-lished, they may be killed in revenge.

The Dhaka Tribune yesterday spent the day with the area’s transgender community led by Sapna Hijra, discussing their feats and fears in the aftermath of Oyasiqur’s murder.

They spoke as a group and did not divulge who among them actually took place in snar-ing the murderers.

Sapna Hijra is an in� uential person in the Begunbari area where the killing took place, and leads the trangender community that lives there.

At the time of the murder, they said, � ve transgender people were out collecting mon-

ey from shops in the Begunbari area, as they do every week.

When they saw Oyasiqur’s attackers run-ning away, the hijras chased them, grabbing two while the third got away.

Police have said the two arrestees con-fessed to a role in the murder of Oyasiqur, but Begunbari’s transgender community remains wary of divulging too much to the media.

One trangender person told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our Guru Ma [Sapna Hijra] is now away from Dhaka. Without her permission we will not tell you who among us caught those killers that day.”

“The killers’ accomplices might attack us if we disclose their names to you,” another member of the community said.

When told that the Dhaka Metropolitan Po-lice (DMP) wanted to reward the duo for their bravery, the community still refused to tell the Dhaka Tribune their names.

Tejgaon Zone Police Deputy Commissioner Biplob Kumar Sarker told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “We are looking for the two that caught the criminals to thank them. We have not yet found out who they are.”

Sapna Hijra, speaking to the Dhaka Trib-une over the phone yesterday, said: “When I return to Dhaka, I will � nd out who caught the killers and then I can tell you their names.”

DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told reporters: “We are thinking about re-warding them for their courageous work. We applaud such bravery.” l

Ruling alliance partners not on same pageFilmstar and former Awami League MP Sara Begum Kabari has also submitted nomination papers for the mayor in the north.

The problem of multiple leaders running for same posts is much more serious at the ward level for the Awami League. On an aver-age, � ve Awami League leaders in each ward have submitted nomination papers for con-testing in the councillor election.

However, things are less critical for the rul-ing alliance in Chittagong.

In a closed-door meeting at Hotel Penin-sula in the port city yesterday afternoon, lo-cal leaders of the 14-party alliance reached a consensus to back AJM Nasir Uddin, Awami League’s choice for the polls there.

Chittagong-based JSD leader and lawmak-er Moin Uddin Khan Badal informed reporters about the decision after the meeting.

Nasir, who is running in the polls under the banner of Nagarik Committee, was not present in the meeting although he is one of the top leaders of the alliance in Chittagong. l

Int’l communities concerned over freedom of expressionn Tribune Report

Death of a second blogger within a span of barely one month triggered strong reaction from the international community with the UN expressing “tremendous concern” and European countries condemning the attack.

UN deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq, during his regular brie� ng at the UN head-quarters on Monday (Tuesday in Bangladesh) said: “…it is a matter of tremendous concern that di� erent journalists and other intellectu-als are being attacked.”

He said the UN has been calling for basic rights in Bangladesh, including the right to

freedom of expression when asked if the UN had any response to another blogger being hacked to death.

The European Union issued a statement condemning the murder of Oyasiqur Rahman, a liberal thinker.

“The Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh condemns the brutal assault and killing of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman...” EU Am-bassador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon said in a message on Monday as reported by UNB.

France and Germany have also condemned Monday’s murder of the progressive writer.

Paris conveyed its condolences to Oyas-iqur’s family and relatives, said a press release of the French embassy.

France called upon the authorities to in-vestigate these revolting acts and reiterated its commitment to freedom of opinion and expression, including online expression.

The German Embassy said it was an attack on the freedom of expression as this was al-ready the second case of an assault against liberal bloggers within a month of the grue-some killing of Avijit Roy.

Blogger Oyasiqur Rahman was hacked to death in the Tejgaon Industrial Area when he was on his way to work.

Blogger and science writer Avijit Roy, a Bangladesh born US citizen, was hacked to death on Dhaka University campus on Febru-ary 26 by Islamist fanatics. l

2 bank o� cials held in embezzlement casen FM Mizanur Rahman, Chittagong

Two bank o� cials of Bangladesh Commercial Bank (BCB) in Chittagong city’s Khatunganj branch have been arrested on charges of em-bezzling crores of clients’ money.

BCB’s Khatunganj Branch Manager Kazi Abul Kashem � led the case with the Kotwali police early yesterday accusing the branch’s second o� cer Moinuddin and cashier Mon-irul Islam, said Kotwali police station’s OC Md Jasimuddin. He added that Moinuddin, who had gone into hiding after taking the clients’ money, surrendered at the Kotwali police station around 9:30pm on Monday. Based on his confession police arrested the bank cash-ier Monirul Islam from the bank premises in Khatunganj last night. OC Jasimuddin said it could not be ascertained how much money the bank o� cials have misappropriated. l

NEWS2DT

NEWS 3D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Police given major role in scrutinyn Tribune Report

Police yesterday said they would send by last night the details of criminal records of all the mayor and councillor aspirants of the upcoming Dhaka city polls to the Election Commission.

At a press brie� ng last evening in the media o� ce of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), Detective Branch (DB) chief Monirul Islam said: “The EC wanted to know if there is any criminal record against any of those who had submitted nomination papers for the elections. We will send those details to the EC by tonight [last night].

“However, we will need further investiga-tion to know if any of the candidates have any case or complaint outside their electoral are-as,” Monir, also a joint commissioner of DMP, told reporters.

The EC will scrutinise the nomination pa-pers today and tomorrow. From today, rep-resentatives of police will be present at the election o� ces during scrutiny.

A senior DMP o� cial told the Dhaka Trib-une that before every election – both national and local – the EC holds meeting with police before scrutinising nomination papers.

“But this is the � rst time in history and the law enforcement agency is being involved at such a massive level with the scrutiny pro-cess,” the o� cial said.

The highlights of the long list of informa-tion that the EC has sought from DMP in-cludes who has how many criminal cases; the type of crimes committed; which candidates have arms in their possessions and how many are illegal. The EC also wanted to know if any of the nomination seekers are now under-ground or in jail.

Among the heavyweight aspirants, BNP leaders Mirza Abbas and Abdus Salam – just like many party colleagues – are now under-

ground to avoid arrest. Their nomination pa-pers were collected and submitted by repre-sentatives on their behalf.

Another BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, a mayor aspirant for Dhaka south, is now serving life term in jail in the BDR car-nage case.

DB boss Monirul Islam said the EC has all the rights to make any decision under the election code of conduct in case an aspirant has any of the issues mentioned above.

If someone has a case but is out without bail then police will arrest him or her no mat-ter how big a leader they are. Police will also keep those out on bail under close servail-lance, Monirul said.

Although Monirul refused to say exactly how many names are there in their list, he said: “Most mayor and councillor aspirants have 30-40 cases against their names...It is entirely up to the EC whether they will permit candidates in hiding. Police has nothing to do in this regard.”

Asked whether they would launch any special drive before the polls, the DB boss only said: “A drive is already going on.”

Meanwhile, Election Commissioner Shah Newaz yesterday said that police do not need to seek the EC’s permission in case they want to arrest someone. He was talking to reporters at the EC o� ce in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

Asked whether aspirants accused in cases would be allowed to contest the polls, he said the commission has speci� c rules about who can take part and how they campaign.

He also said that the current commission has already successfully organised six free and fair city polls.

Asked what would happen to the ward councillor aspirants who failed to � le their pa-pers on time on Sunday, Shah Newaz said there was no scope for considering their case. l

BNP team to meet EC today n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

A delegation of BNP will meet the Election Commission today to place its eight-point proposal that includes a demand for creating level-playing � eld for all in the city corpora-tion polls.

A source at the BNP Gulshan o� ce said the delegation led by the party’s Standing Commit-tee member Jamiruddin Sircar will go to the EC.

“Khaleda Zia has discussed the proposals with some senior leaders and � nalised them,” the source said.

The other demands include immediate re-lease of all the opposition leaders including BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, action against violators of election code of conduct, steps to stop vote rigging and use of muscle power and recovery of illegal arms.

“Scrutiny of nomination papers has al-ready started but supporters of the BNP-

backed candidates have not yet been able to take to the street. Almost all of its leaders are either in jail or in hiding because of cases � led against them,” said a senior BNP leader.

“Release and bails of those BNP leaders are very signi� cant right now for a fair election.”

The party, however, in a press release signed by party Joint Secretary General Bar-katullah Bulu, expressed hope that the EC would play its role to restore democratic pro-cess by creating a congenial atmosphere.

Party insiders also said pro-BNP profes-sional platform Sommilito Peshajibi Parishad expressed their will to coordinate the city corporation polls as the pro-BNP civil society platform Shoto Nagorik does not have experi-ence and capacity to do so.

Senior leaders of the party, however, said candidates would participate from such a platform that will work in coordination with the Shoto Nagorik Committee.

The platform will be announced on April 3. l

Who is going to be your future mayor?n Mohammad Al Masum Molla and Asif Islam

The city corporation elections slated for April 28 will see nearly 12.5% of the country’s popu-lation exercise the franchise, o� ering not only a barometer reading on the state of the repub-lic but also a glimpse into the current state of leadership in Bangladesh.

As the 18.5 million residents of the coun-try’s three most populous city corporations go to the ballot box to elect their next chief metropolitan o� cer, citizens rightly ask: Who exactly are their would-be leaders?

The Dhaka Tribune has collated data on 59 of the 60 candidates for the three mayoral polls to answer this very question.

The wealth of information in the candi-dates’ nomination papers shows tremendous variety among the contenders for the Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city may-oral race.

Representing an array of occupational and educational backgrounds, candidates appear to re� ect the diversity of the constituencies

they aspire to serve.Work-wise, the vast majority of the mayor

aspirants, 37 to be exact, described their pro-fession as “business.”

One, Sarah Begum Kabari, is an actress, while several other aspirants described them-selves as writers, even though they did not describe how writing contributed to their in-comes.

Descriptions of professions ran the gam-ut of occupations from ASM Akram, who is a rentier, to Bazlur Rashid Firoz and Abdulah Al Ka� , who described themselves as full-time politicians.

Another candidate described his work as being a politician but also listed writing as a profession.

Four wordsmiths joined a clothier in the competition for mayor, describing their oc-cupations respectively as writer or poet, and tailor.

Journalists, travel agents, lawyers, whole-salers, contractors and publishers rubbed shoulders with each other in the match for the mandate.

One proud business proprietor, Abdul Khalek, named his nutritive product as his occupation – tehari, a rice casserole popu-lar in the three metropolises. Another, who presumably o� ers nourishment of a spiritual kind, described himself as the Imam of a mosque.

Just under half of the candidates, 28 to be exact, are at least graduates, meaning that they completed the tertiary level of education.

Two candidates, Asaduzzaman Ripon and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, identify them-selves as PhD holders, while another two were

educated in the madrasa system and hold Master’s-equivalent Kamil degrees.

The remaining tertiary educated candi-dates include those who describe themselves simply as graduates as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s degree holders in the arts, commerce and sciences. Two have LLMs, and one, Bobby Hajjaj, is an MBA.

Eight candidates describe their education-al attainment as “self-educated” and two as “literate.”

Seventeen candidates say they received formal schooling up to the secondary level, ranging from the completion of class VIII to the completion of HSCs. This includes a num-ber who completed their SSCs and one who completed the madrasa system’s Alim quali-� cation.

Without making any scienti� c claims, it is probably fair to say that the breakdown of candidates’ educational and occupation-al backgrounds re� ects the diversity of the citizenry who will choose their mayors from among them later this month. l

Just under half of the candidates, 28 to be exact, are at least graduates, meaning that they completed the tertiary level of education

Activists of a progressive writers’ platform form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday protesting the murder of blogger Oyasiqur Rahman DHAKA TRIBUNE

NEWS4DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

BD-US partnership, security dialogue likely in Apriln Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

The government is planning to hold the fourth Bangladesh-US Partnership Dialogue and Se-curity Dialogue in April to boost relationship.

“We have proposed to hold the dialogues on April 30 and are waiting for the US approv-al,” a senior o� cial of the For-eign Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune.

The fourth partnership di-alogue will be held in Dhaka while the security dialogue will be held in Washington. The venues were reversed in the third meeting.

In the partnership dialogue to be held in Dhaka, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque will lead the Bangladesh side while US State Department Un-der-secretary Wendy Sherman the US side.

“Wendy Sherman is cur-rently busy with negotiation with Iran on nuclear issue and it is expected that it would be concluded very soon,” he said.

Both the governments will follow the format of last three dialogues and it is expected that no new issue will be in-cluded in the negotiation.

“We have lot of things to do and we need to consolidate the existing areas of cooperation,” the o� cial added.

Dhaka is engaged with

Washington in a wide range of areas including trade, invest-ment, assistance, security co-operation and people-to-peo-ple contact.

In the partnership dialogue, it is expected that both the par-ties would discuss three broad areas – development and gov-ernance, trade and investment, and security cooperation.

In cluster discussion, in-vestment climate, energy, la-bour and terrorism issues will dominate the dialogue.

In the last partnership di-alogue held in Washington in October last year, both the par-ties in the cluster discussion talked about strengthening democratic institution, civil society, rule of law, climate change, migration and Rohing-ya, science and technology, labour, blue economy peace-keeping and law enforcement.

Education, diaspora, cul-ture, regional integration, hu-man rights and security were also discussed. A joint state-ment had been issued after the dialogue.

Another Foreign Ministry o� cial said the Fourth Secu-rity Dialogue is proposed to be held in Washington.

“We are working on it and hope to have a good meeting,” he said.

Last time, the Security Dia-logue was held in Dhaka. l

14 evicted Hindu families get back landn Our Correspondent, Barguna

Local administration and police yesterday reinstated 14 Hindu families on their land at Chandan-tola village of Taltoli upazila and started construction of houses.

A temporary police camp was also set up in the area to ensure security of the families, evicted by in� uential quarters over the last two years.

The families returned to the village around 11am amid pres-ence of Deputy Commissioner Mir Jahurul Islam, Superin-tendent of Police Saiful Islam, Additional District Magistrate Habibur Rahman, Union Pari-shad Chairman Nazir Hossain Patwary and representatives of civil society and rights bodies.

At a views-exchange meet-ing organised by Community Police, local Awami League

leaders demanded punish-ment of Jubo League leader Zakir Hossain, his brother Ab-dus Salam who with the help of BNP leader Abdur Rashid for evicting the Hindu families.

Three families left the vil-lage and started living in Bar-guna town early 2013 in the face of torture by the three leaders and their cohorts, lo-cals say. Two more families had to leave the area early last year while the nine other fami-lies on March 13 this year.

Each family was given Tk6,000, two bundles of cor-rugated iron sheets, 30kg rice, grocery items and food grains. Moreover, the district admin-istration has started installing deep tube-well while the pub-lic health engineering depart-ment constructing hygienic sanitary latrines. l

Top power plant falters during peak season n Aminur Rahman Rasel

In the middle of peak demand sea-son, the country’s largest public sector power plant has been temporarily shut down due to technical problems.

Power sector insiders said the dis-ruption of the 412MW gas-� red Hari-pur Power Plant in Narayanganj will

have an impact on the country’s elec-tricity supply.

“Production was halted on March 16 as its � lter was damaged. We have already started maintenance work,” Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB) Managing Director Mostafa Kamal told the Dhaka Trib-une, adding commercial production is

likely to resume next month.The plant was shut down due to

technical glitches during its test run two years ago and has been switched o� repeatedly since commencing com-mercial operations.

On August 24, 2013, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the power plant’s operations. l

NEWS 5D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

HSC, equivalent exams begin today n Tribune Report

The Higher Secondary Certi� cate ex-ams begin today amid political agita-tions sponsored by the BNP-led 20-par-ty alliance.

More than 10 lakh students will take part in the HSC and equivalent exams this year – 67,490 fewer than last year.

The theoretical tests are scheduled to be held between April 1 and June 11; the practical exams will be held be-tween June 13 and June 22.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Na-hid yesterday said the government de-cided to hold the exams as per schedules despite the ongoing political turmoil.

“We are holding this year’s exams in

an unusual situation in which the stu-dents are panicked,” he said. “The stu-dents will lose a year from their academ-ic lives if the exams are not held on time.”

The 20-party alliance has called a 24-hour nationwide hartal for Thurs-day, while the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporations will remain out of the hartal purview. l

BRTA o� cial’s wife killed, 3 more injuredn Mohammad Jamil Khan

and Abid Azad

The assailant came to the � at of Sitangshu Shekhar Bishwas, deputy director of Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, on Monday night with gifts and food to greet him on his belat-ed birthday. He was apparently known to the family.

He gave Sitangshu juice, pre-sumably laced with sedatives, that he had brought. After drinking the juice, Sitangshu fell unconscious, and then the man hit his head with a ham-mer.

As Krishna Kaberi Bishwas, 36, wife of the BRTA o� cial, came to the living room with a boti, a unique kitchen sick-le, the killer snatched it and hacked her on the head.

Stunned at the incidents, the couple’s daughters Adri, 6, and Shruti, 15, rushed to the living room of the second � oor � at of a building on Iqbal Road, Mohammadpur to save their parents. They were also hit and eventually � ed. Shruti in-formed their neighbours about the attack over land phone.

Before leaving the house, the killer switched o� the light in the living room and set the room on � re. He also threw Krishna into the � re, Sanchita Bishwas, sister of Sitangshu, told the Dhaka Tribune quoting Shruti.

Krishna, who is a teacher at Mission International College in Adabar, Mohammadpur, was critically injured. The neigh-bours took the couple to Care Hospital at Asad Gate and later to Mohakhali’s Dhaka Metro-politan Hospital where Krishna

succumbed to her injuries around 3am.

Doctors said both Sitangshu and Adri were in a critical state from excessive bleeding and were being treated at the In-tensive Care Unit. Shruti was recovering in a regular cabin.

Relatives, neighbours and security guard of the building identi� ed the killer as Zakir Hossain, manager of a broker house named Hazi Ahmed Se-curities, who had been known to the family and visited them around 9pm on Monday night. As the man identi� ed himself at the reception, Sitangshu, whose birthday had passed several days ago, asked the guard to allow Zakir.

Sanchita said the attack-er had addressed Sitangshu as “sir.”

Sitangshu’s neighbour Saber Ahmed said they had found the BRTA o� cial and his daughters bleeding and lying on the � oor. “We brought them to our � at. When I went to rescue his wife, we found the � at � lled with smoke. I rescued her – burnt and bleeding severely,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Hailing from Rajbari, Si-tangshu is a serving deputy director for operation in BRTA head o� ce. Shruti is a grade X student while Adri reads in class II.

Azizul Islam, OC of Moham-madpur police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were yet to learn about the motive behind the killing.

“We have got some clues and vital information from the victims’ relatives. We will talk to the victims once they get well.” l

7,500kg of jatka con� scated from cityn Tribune Report

Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday in a drive con� scated 7500kg of jatka from the capi-tal’s Kawran Bazar � sh market yesterday morning.

The elite force � ned 11 � sh traders Tk5000 each for selling jatka (hilsha fry) defying gov-ernment ban.

Rab 2 operation o� cer Maruf Ahammed said on in-

formation they raided the Kar-wan Bazar � sh market yester-day morning with the o� cials of Fisheries Department and seized 7500kg of jatka.

RAB 2 Magistrate Anisur Rahman � ned 11 illegal � sh traders Tk5000 each for selling jatka, said the o� cial.

ASP Maruf Ahmed as the Pahela Baisakh is approaching � sh traders are illegally selling jatka. l

NEWS6DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Oishee’s friend gets bailn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday grant-ed bail to a suspect in the mur-ders of Special Branch Inspec-tor Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife Swapna Rahman, who were allegedly killed by their own daughter Oishee Rahman.

Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribu-nal 3 Judge Syeed Ahamed granted the bail to Oishee’s friend Mizanur Rahman Rony, 25, after hearing a bail petition.

Rony’s counsel Md Shahidul Islam said the investigation o� cer had brought allegation under section 112 of the penal code against Rony for sheltering the key accused; so the court granted the bail as Rony did not know about the murder.

“The main accused in the case – Oishee – also did not mention his [Rony’s] name in the confessional statement she earlier gave to the court under section 164.”

The tribunal has so far re-corded depositions of four prosecution witnesses, out of 57, and has also � xed April 6 for the next hearing.

According to the case state-ment, the bodies of Mahfuzur and Swapna were found at their Chamelibagh residence in the capital on August 16, 2013.

On September 18, 2013, detectives arrested Oishee’s friend Rony.

On March 9 last year, DB Inspector Abul Khair Matub-bar, the investigation o� cer of the case, submitted two charge sheets – one against Oishee and her friends Jony and Rony, and another against household help Sumi – before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

Later on November 12 last year, the case was shifted to the Speedy Trial Tribunal 3 in accordance to a Home Minis-try decision. l

Rizvi on remand againn Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was placed on a fresh three-day remand yesterday in a case of insti-gating vandalism and arson in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on January 18.

Metropolitan Magistrate Musta� zur Rahman passed the order when Sub-Inspector Markarias Das of Sher-e-Bang-la Nagar police station, also the investigation o� cer of the

case, produced him before the court seeking a � ve-day re-mand for interrogation.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel sought his bail but the court rejected the bail petition after hearing.

With the fresh remand, Rizvi is now on 30 days of remand in several cases � led with di� er-ent police stations in connec-tion with vandalism and arson.

Rizvi was arrested by law enforcers on January 31 from a house in Baridhara. l

BOU publishes HSC results n Tribune Report

Results of the � rst and second year � nal examinations of the Higher Secondary Certi� cate Programme under Bangladesh Open University have been an-nounced in the grading system.

The results are available on BOU’s website bou.ac.bd. The � rst and second year results are available at exam.bou.edu.bd.

The results can also be accessed via mobile SMS. For this, Banglalink sub-scribers will have to type “bou<space>student ID” and send to 2700. The subscribers of other operators can type the same message and send to 2777 for the results. l

German course for SSC examineesn Our Correspondent,

Chittagong

Students who have just taken their Secondary School Certif-icate examinations can now take a six-week German lan-guage course at Die Sprache, a German language teaching centre in Chittagong.

“SSC examinees have a lot of time before going to col-lege. They can utilise this time to learn a new language,” said Die Sprache Director Joyonto Chowdhury at a press brie� ng yesterday.

Admissions will begin from April 8 and classes are scheduled to start fromApril 16. l

NEWS 7D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

WEATHER

Source: Accuweather/UNB

D H A K ATODAY TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:14PM SUN RISES 5:50AM

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW33.8ºC 19.4ºCMongla Syedpur

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

F O R E C A S T F O R T O D A YDhaka 32 24Chittagong 32 25Rajshahi 33 23Rangpur 32 20Khulna 32 23Barisal 32 24Sylhet 30 20Cox’s Bazar 31 24

PRAYER TIMESFajr 4:35am

Sunrise 5:50am

Zohr 12:03am

Asr 4:30pm

Magrib 6:14pm

Esha 7:31pm

DRY WEATHER

LIKELY

Mother, daughter hacked to deathn Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A woman and her daughter were hacked to death by unidenti� ed miscreants in Pabur area under Kapasia upazila of the district on Monday night.

The victims were identi� ed as Surjo Be-gum, 75, and Mabia, 40, inhabitants of Pabur village.

The mother and the daughter were sleeping in the house when they were killed at dead of night, Kapasia union chairman Asgar Hossain said, quoting the relatives of the victims.

Kapasia police station O� cer-in-Charge Ahsan Ullah said, on information, police went to the spot and recovered the bodies.

The bodies were to Gazipur Shahid Taz Uddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

However, the police and the locals could not ascertain the reason behind the murder immediately.

The assailants took away some money from the house, the relatives said. l

4 drown, 9 missingin boat capsizen Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Four people died and nine others went miss-ing as a boat capsized in the Padma River at Shibganj upazila under the district on Mon-day night.

The deceased were identi� ed as Jonab Ali, 55, son of Eshak Ali of Monohorpur, Taz-rin Khatoon, 17, daughter of Azizul Haque of Bheshapara village, Sumi Akhter, an SSC ex-aminee and daughter of

Arshad Ali of Raninagar village, and Rish-ad, 9, son of Nasir Uddin of Monkosha village of the upazila.

Local sources said a boat carrying 15-16 people and 7-8 cattle from Gaipara village to Monohorpur capsized in the middle of the riv-er being hit by a stormy wind.

Although some of the people on board managed to ashore, several of them had re-mained missing since the boat capsize, said Durlabhpur UP chairman Abu Ahmed Nazmul Kabir Mukta.

Moinul Islam, o� cer-in-charge of Shib-ganj police station said on information, police forces had been sent to the spot and they had started rescue operation.

A rescue team started for the spot.Local people were also continuing their

rescue operation from night.They became angry to the team for late

protested the negligence of the authority con-cern. l

Two to die for killing minor girl after rape n Our Correspondent, Netrakona

A Netrakona court sentenced two people to death penalty for killing a minor girl after rape three years back.

Judge of Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Dr AKM Abul Kashem gave the ver-dict against Ali Hossain and Mamud Hossain. Both of them are the residents of Horipur vil-lage at Dhormopasa upazila, Sunamganj.

According to the prosecution, the con-victs raped Shabnur, 10, daughter of Jahang-ir Alam, a resident of Atithipur village, after taking her in a jute � eld and later killed her on July 14, 2012.

Later, police recovered the body from the � eld the following day.

Father of the victim � led a case with Ne-trakona Sadar police station accusing Ali Hos-sain and Mamud Hossain. l

E levated expressway work to begin after 3 missed deadlinesn Shohel Mamun

The proposed Dhaka elevated expressway have been facing uncertainties centring acqui-sition of a land in Kuril but the authority said the issue is in the process of being resolved.

The work for building the � rst phase of the expressway from the airport to Banani in the capital could not be started because of a com-plication in acquiring a 1.4 acre land in Kuril. At least six multi-storied buildings stand on that land and the owners had � led a petition with the High Court.

According to Bangladesh Bridge Authority sources a mutual understanding was reached with the stakeholders with the help of Bangla-desh Army regarding land acquisition for the � rst phase of the project.

Sources said the owners of the buildings have agreed to the government proposal for resettlement.

Today (Wednesday) Bridge division have arranged a workshop with the stakeholders of the land to � nalise the resettlement action plan. Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quder will preside over the meeting.

Asked about the construction start date, the Bridge division Secretary Khandaker Anowarul Islam said: “We are going to start the construction work immediately and we hope it will be complete by 2018.”

The elevated expressway project have al-ready missed three deadlines in starting con-struction. In December last year the construc-tion company Ital-Thai opposed to start work unless they had � nal con� rmation about land

acquisition. Earlier, the construction work was delayed for fund crisis.

In January 2011, the government signed an agreement with Bangkok-based Ital-Thai to build the four-lane expressway at a cost of Tk8,703 crore under the Public-Private Part-nership (PPP) scheme. After continuous fund crisis, last year the Ital-Thai Development Cor-poration Limited entered into a $1.062bn con-tract with China Railway Construction Corpo-ration to build the Dhaka elevated expressway.

The proposed expressway starts at the Shahjalal International Airport and runs alongside the New Airport Road via Mohakha-li, Tejgaon and Moghbazar to Kamalapur Railway Station and connects with the Dha-ka-Chittagong Highway near Kutubkhali via Golapbagh and Jatrabari. l

Rajshahi College students protest hike in feesn Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The students of Rajshahi Government College went on a demonstration in protest at the in-crease in the fees of from � ll-up on the cam-pus yesterday.

Over 100 students started demonstration and chanting slogans against the authorities concerned around 11am. On information, a team from Boalia police station rushed to the campus and took the situation under control.

The agitated students alleged that the au-thorities concerned allegedly had increased the amount of fees for form � ll-up of the third year � nal examination.

Several students of English department said the amount had been increased to Tk5,700 from Tk4,600.

It will be burdensome for a huge number of students who have come from poor and un-derprivileged families, said several students while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

The students also alleged that when they had gone to the principal of the college to reg-ister their complaint, Principal Hobibur Rah-man got furious.

However, Principal Mohammad Ho-bibur claimed that the amount of fees was� xed by the higher authorities of National University. l

Unpaid for three consecutive months, workers of Hemstitch Design Garments stage a demonstration in front of the BGMEA building in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

NEWS8DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Delay in getting power connections puts 400 farmers in di� cultiesn Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

About 400 Thakurgaon farmers have been struggling to bring their land under Boro irriga-tion for long as the local power authorities have allegedly ignored to give power connection to newly-installed 101 deep tube-wells for long.

Consequently 3,000 hectares of the farm-ers under � ve upazilas remain out of the irri-gation net.

Sources said this may impact production set by the agriculture o� ce.

On the other hand, many farmers have start-ed setting up shallow pumps for irrigation which will eventually double the production cost.

The local agriculture o� ce set a target of 245,393 tonnes of rice from 61,859 hectares for the current Boro season.

Barind Multipurpose Development Au-thorities last year installed 107 deep tube-wells in the upazila to ensure smooth Boro cultivation.

Of them, only 6 managed to get electricity connection as both Barind and local power au-thorities are locked in blame game in this regard.

Farmers Tawhidul Islam and Abul Kasem in Sadar upazila said almost eight months had elapsed since the tube-wells were set up.

They were facing much trouble as they had earlier sold their shallow machines expecting electricity connection.

Another farmer named Shahaduddin said his production cost had doubled as he began to irrigation with shallow pumps. Rather, de-lay in irrigation might decrease his produc-tion volume as well, he continued.

Joyanti Sarker, from Bhomradah village in Pirganj upazila, said they welcomed the project to get low cost irrigation facility, but their dreams faded away want of electricity connection.

Farmers, namely Dipo Rai and Joyesri, from the upazila, said ten shallow machines are needed in lieu of only one deep tube-well.

Thakurgaon Palli Bidyut Samity General Manager (GM) Khalekuzzaman denied the allegation of delay in electricity connection, saying they did not receive any application in this regard from the Varendra authorities.

Those applications placed for deep tube-well connection to them already secured per-mission, the GM continued.

On the contrary, Varendra Multipurpose Development Authority Executive Engineer Shahidur Rahman termed the claim of GM Khalekuzzaman baseless. l

CONSEQUENCE OF BLOCKADES, HARTALS IN THAKURGAON

Demu train services suspended for 85 days n Our Correspondent, Thakurgaon

Commuters su� er as the Diesel Electric Mul-tiple Unit (Demu) train services on Parbati-pur-Thakurgaon and Parbatipur- Lalmonirhat routes have remained suspended for 86 days due to security reasons.

Authorities of Bangladesh Railway (BR) had stopped the plying of the Demu trains on the routes on January 5 when the BNP-led 20-party alliance enforced blockade across the country.

The BR’s o� cials in Thakurgaon told the Dhaka Tribune that they stopped the train

services to avoid any attack on the trains by pro-blockade and pro-hartal activists.

Shamsul Haq, a station master of BR in Thakurgaon, said they stopped plying of the trains to ensure security of the passengers.

Maleka Parvin Bithi, a lecturer of Abul Hos-sain Sarkar College, was a regular commuter of the train on Parbatipur-Thakurgaon route.

“I used to travel by the train regularly to go my college. But now I am facing various problems as the train service has remained stopped for about three months,” she said.

Shahdat Hossain, a student of Thakurgaon

Government College, was another user of the train service.

“Now I have to travel about 30 kilometers by bicycle from my home to the college. Its really di� cult to attend my classes by driving bicycles,” he said. “I cannot pay attention to my study at home as I become tired to travel to my college and home,” he added.

AKM Lutfar Rahman, o� cer-in-charge of Parbatipur Railway police station, said no sub-versive activities could take place in the area because of active role of the law enforcers.

“We will ensure necessary securities if the

railway authorities resume the train services,” he said.

On August 27, 2013, Railway Minister Mu-jibul Haque inaugurated the Demu train ser-vices at the Thakurgaon Railway Station.

With three bogies, the train can carry 300 passengers – 149 sitting and 151 standing.

The train on Parbatipur-Thakurgaon rout stops at � ve stations at Chirirbandar, Dina-jpur, Setabganj, Pirganj and Thakurgaon.

Meanwhile, the train on Parbatipur- Lalmonirhat route stops at Kholahati, Badar-ganj, Rangpur, Kaonia, and Lalmonirhat. l

Village women are seen doing household chores with the water of a deep tube well installed under Barind Project in Bhimarpara village of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi yesterday. People of the Barind tract have been immense su� ering for a few days for lack of water due to falls in underground water level. Almost all the ponds, canals and even tributaries have dried up AZAHAR UDDIN

LONG FORM 9D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

n Tim Steel

Returning from Bangladesh in time for the 2015 General Election, apart from the evident absence of a con-tinuous threat of political mayhem,

endangering life, limb, and commerce, there is a palpably familiar air in the United King-dom. In a word, uncertainty.

With two major parties lunging at each other’s throats, with large, and growing num-bers of political fragments snapping around them, the citizens may well ask themselves how, through a fog of media induced confu-sion of threats and drama, can they sensibly take a view which can most probably o� er the leadership required to plan and deliver a prospect of a better sustainable world in which to live in the future United Kingdom.

The di� erence, of course, is that the sun still seems to be rising on a thriving future for the lands that, once before were a centre of world economic development in Bang-ladesh, at the heart of which lies one of the world’s earliest and most prosperous centres of trade. But, in Britain, there seems to be a real prospect that the sun may, � nally, be threatening to set on the last vestiges of “the empire, upon which the sun never sets.” Ironically, perhaps, an empire of which these lands of Bangladesh were, undoubtedly, a foundation stone.

The usual kind of opening skirmishes characterise the onset of the eighth week before election day on May 7.

Accusations of taking of illegal donations for election funds have already erupted, and school yard standard of parliamentary abuse about who could, would, and should partici-pate in televised debates assail the eyes and ears in what should probably be properly referred to as the “Views Media.” Intelligent, objective coverage of political issues, already in short supply, may be regarded as a serious-ly endangered species!

With so many weeks to go before polling day, such abuse seems already in the gutter; how much lower can it go? But it all makes apparent drama and con� ict upon which the media thrives! From whether the Labour leader has two kitchens in his modest London home, to whether the present prime minister has been too close to such criminals as his former press adviser and unprosecuted bank-ers still evidently misappropriating funds in undeserved bonuses, spice the stories.

However, this election is being fought a scarce 200 years after the famous Battle of Waterloo, that might be said to have consol-idated the international supremacy of the British Empire since the Battle of Plassey. An empire in the making, that would thrive for another century, and then commence the decline to Little Britain, this may yet come to be regarded as the last election to the Parlia-ment of the United Kingdom, and its place as a leading member of the European Union, and of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

With high opinion polling for parties who wish to pull in such polarised directions, of exit from the European Union, and the frag-mentation of the United Kingdom, this could well prove to be an election that will go down in history.

Elections since the end of World War 2, that brought the British Empire to its end, have, by and large, been fought on domestic

issues, from “The Pound in Your Pocket,” to the provision of citizen health and welfare at all stages of life.

The last � ve years, however, has seen the most inequitable reverse of economic security for most voters in modern times, with the poorest estimated, over the past � ve years, to have become over 50% poorer, and the wealthiest over 60% wealthier. The very evident decline in the ability of the world famous National Health Service now appears, possibly, to have reached a terminal stage, and this, certainly, looks set to be a major issue in the election campaign. Even in the dying weeks of this government, massive privatisation contracts have been announced for the NHS.

Strangely, the possibility of Britain making its � nal exit from any international alliance, in which it has always dominated, and even the stark reality of the breakup of the Union,

something roundly defeated by involved voters a mere six months ago, seem not to be debatable at the present stage of the cam-paign, representing, “elephants in the room,” visible to few. However, the fairly inevitable consequence of what all pollsters presently predict to be the “tartan wash” of Scottish politics, seems, slowly, to be emerging as an issue to occupy most voters’ attention, more as a possible e� ect on the make up of the next UK government than on the virtual certainty that independence will be, rapidly, back on the agenda, leading inevitably, to that fragmentation.

The “No more Tories” appeal of last September’s referendum in Scotland, which threatened, then, to precipitate the breakup of the British Union, was then resisted on practical grounds. The subsequent perfor-mance of the London-based coalition gov-ernment, however, has con� rmed sceptics in

the suspicion that the Tories, in fact, sought, “No more Scotland,” where Conservatism has never truly � ourished, and, instead, provided the foundations of almost all Labour Party governments in the UK parliament. Exclud-ing Scotland from that parliament would probably give the Conservatives an almost continuous majority.

Parliament, of course, has yet to be prorogued; that will take place at the end of March. The only real e� ect of this is that, until the election is “called”... since legislation in 2010 set a � rm future timetable for elections to “prevent opportunist manipulation of the date, giving an apparent advantage to in-cumbent governments” ... the date has been known, constituency campaigns may not commence use of funds they will be required to account for in declaration of expenditures within the legal limit for such local activity. Posters, therefore, have not begun to sprout from hedgerows and in front gardens, as com-mitted voters declare their allegiances.

It seems, to most UK citizens, therefore, something of a “phoney war,” with the background grumble of the sounds of con� ict evident in the media, but no real evidence of activity on the ground.

This will certainly change as soon as the election is called. The telephones will ring o� the hook with telephone banks of canvassers disturbing the peace of bewildered household-ers; letter boxes will be stu� ed with lea� ets, personal messages from candidates, and news-papers claiming the objectivity of such print to urge support for one candidate or another.

As usual, such activity will, doubtless, lead to confusion, and probably assault the defences of indi� erence. Scratch most poten-tial voters and the polls, and experience tells us that the likelihood of actually voting on the day will still be at a low level.

For commentators, who can see past the immediacy of such issues as the future of the National Health Service, in the management of which neither of the major parties have a track record to excite credibility, or the like-lihood of massive pro� teering by privatised utility suppliers being tackled, or the con-spicuous abuse of position by those seeking votes being curtailed -- the prospect of such seismic change as the fragmentation and international isolation of the nation that once ruled a third of the world through an empire in which, somewhere every day, the sun always shone, there is a growing depression.

Anyone who had stood upon the beach at Cox’s Bazar, and watched the sun dip slowly below the horizon, having, momentarily, perhaps, been photographed cupping the red orb in their hand, may just appreciate the sense of the inevitable loss of a light that once burnt so brightly, that appears to threat-en this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Island.

Well might the great eighteenth century English poet, Percy Bushe Shelley’s immortal words resound throughout Britain, not to mention the political halls of USA, Russia and China, especially, “Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair.” l

Tim Steel is a Communications and Marketing Consultant. His half century experience in politics includes speechwriting, research and consultancy to two Labour Party prime ministers and leaders of the opposition.

Breaking Britain

But, in Britain, there seems to be a real prospect that the sun may, � nally, be threatening to set on the last vestigesof ‘the empire, upon which the sun never sets’

BIGSTOCK

WORLD10DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Iran seeks nuclear deal but not normal ties with ‘great satan’n Reuters, Lausanne, Switzerland

Iran is not expected to normalise relations with the United States even if Tehran reaches agreement with world powers on its nuclear program, o� cials and analysts said.

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China are trying to reach a deal with Iran aimed at stopping Tehran being able to de-velop a nuclear bomb in exchange for an easing of sanctions that are crippling its economy.

Loyalists of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, drawn from among Islamists and Revolutionary Guards who fear continued economic hardship might cause the collapse of the establishment, have agreed to back President Hassan Rouhani’s pragmatic readi-ness to negotiate a nuclear deal, Iranian o� -cials said.

“But it will not go beyond that and he (Khamenei) will not agree with normalising ties with America,” said an o� cial, who spoke in condition of anonymity.

“You cannot erase decades of hostili-ty with a deal. We should wait and see, and Americans need to gain Iran’s trust. Ties with America is still a taboo in Iran.”

Tension between the hardline and prag-matic camps over the nuclear talks has re-duced in recent months since Khamenei pub-licly backed the negotiations.

However, Khamenei has continued to give speeches larded with denunciations of Iran’s “enemies” and “the Great Satan”, words aimed at reassuring hardliners for whom an-ti-American sentiment has always been cen-tral to Iran’s Islamic revolution.

Khamenei, whose hostility towards the Washington holds together Iran’s faction-rid-den leadership, remains deeply suspicious of US intentions.

But despite disagreement over Iran-US ties, Iranian leaders, whether hardliners or pragmatists, agree that a nuclear deal will help Iran to rebuild its economy.

Relations with Washington were severed after Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution and enmi-ty to the United States has always been a ral-lying point for hardliners in Iran.

“As long as Khamenei remains Su-preme Leader the chances of normalisingUS-Iran relations are very low. Rapproche-ment with the US arguably poses a greater existential threat to Khamenei than contin-ued con� ict,” said Karim Sadjadpour, an Iran expert at the Carnegie Endowment for Inter-national Peace in Washington.

“After three decades of propagating a cul-ture of de� ance against the US, it will be curi-ous to see whether and how Khamenei spins a nuclear compromise as an act of resistance, not compromise.”

“There are di� erent views among top of-� cials over the normalisation of ties with America when the nuclear dispute is re-solved. But the Supreme Leader is against it,” said another Iranian o� cial. “And he is the decision-maker.”

Economically, the stakes are high, mean-ing that while Khamenei needs to keep the hardliners on side, a nuclear deal is a price he seems willing to pay.

Iran is under UN, US and European Union sanctions for refusing to heed UN Security Council demands that it halt all enrichment- and plutonium-related work at its nuclear sites.

The sanctions have severely damaged the Iranian economy, halving oil exports to just over 1 million barrels per day since 2012 while the country is also struggling with a sharp de-cline in international crude prices. l

‘Heaviest’ Arab raids rock Sanaan AFP, Sanaa

Explosions lit up the skies over Yemen’s capital overnight in the heaviest bombing raids yet in

a six-day operation led by Saudi Arabia, which hit out at Iran for supporting Shiite rebels.

The coalition has vowed to keep up the strikes until the Huthi rebels end their up-

rising against President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who has � ed to Saudi Arabia.

The � ghting has sent tensions between Sunni Arab nations and Shiite Iran soaring, even as marathon nuclear talks between Teh-ran and world powers in Switzerland enter a crucial � nal phase.

The Huthis and their ally, former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, “decided with the support of Iran to destabilise Yemen,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said Tuesday.

“We are not warmongers but when they beat the drums of war we are ready,” Saud told the Shura Council advisory body, accord-ing to its Twitter account.

Kuwait’s Al-Watan newspaper launched a vitriolic attack against Tehran, describing the air strikes as “the biggest blow to Iran in decades.”

The coalition campaign “raises hopes of a historic success for the Arabs and a rout of one of their worst enemies: the Persian state,” added the daily.

Huge blasts were heard overnight in Sanaa when coalition forces hit a missile depot be-longing to the renegade Republican Guard, which is loyal to former strongman Saleh.

“Sanaa lived through a day of terror due to

Palestinians joinICC with Israelisin sightsn AFP, Ramallah, Palestinian Territories

The Palestinians formally gain membership of the International Criminal Court yester-day with the aim of pursuing Israelis for war crimes, despite uncertainty over the move’s wider rami� cations.

The accession is another step in the Pales-tinian diplomatic and legal international cam-paign, which gained steam in 2014.

It has uncertain consequences, not only because it is highly unlikely Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israelis will � nd themselves being tried at the ICC, but also because it constitutes a new deteriora-tion in the strained relationship. But the Pal-estinians are beyond caring.

Exasperated after decades of failed negoti-ations with Israel, with no perspective for the state they have been yearning, they have decid-ed to take their case to the international arena.

On January 2, the Palestinians moved to join The Hague-based court in a process that will be � nalised on April 1, setting the scene for potential legal action against Israeli o� -cials for alleged war crimes. l A Yemeni man looks at his house in ruins near Sanaa Airport yesterday AFP

WORLD 11D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Experts caution reality check on joint Arab forcen AFP, Cairo

Despite an agreement at a weekend Arab summit to es-tablish a joint military force, serious doubts remain that it will become a reality on the ground, experts say.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the accord on Sunday at the end of the summit he hosted in the re-sort of Sharm el-Sheikh, setting a four-month timeframe for the 22-member Arab League to de-cide on the composition and rules of engagement of the joint force.

“The notion of a truly joint Arab military force still remains an aspiration rather than a real-ity,” said Frederic Wehrey, an expert at the Carnegie Endow-ment for International Peace. He said it faced “inter-operabil-ity problems, political distrust amongst the states and a lack of realistic training”.

A host of questions remain unanswered, starting with how many member states would participate and the strength of the force.

Key decisions also have to be made on whether it would be a permanent force, on where it would be based and its command structure.

“I don’t think there is a lot of substance to this force,” said James Dorsey, a Middle East an-alyst with the Singapore-based S. Rajaratnam School of Inter-

national Studies.“Despite the statements of

unity, there are vast di� erenc-es between the Arab states and that was evident with the situ-ation in Yemen,” he said.

The Arab League has for months stressed the “pressing need” for a joint force to com-bat “terrorist groups” such as Islamic State group jihadists.

But the Saudi-led Arab air strikes launched last week against Yemen’s Iran-backed Shi-ite Huthi rebels have highlighted the divergent interests and prior-ities of the League’s members.

For Sunni-majority coun-tries, the Huthis’ military ad-vance in Yemen was a step too far, following the spread of Shiite Iran’s in� uence in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

“The problem is that this force can be seen as a Sunni Arab force. It must therefore prove that its actions will not be guided by sectarianism,” said Mathieu Guidere, professor of Arab geopolitics at France’s University of Toulouse.

“Some countries will nega-tively view any interference in their domestic a� airs, and per-ceive it as a threat to national sovereignty,” Guidere said.

Iraq, whose Shiite-led gov-ernment is allied with Tehran, was the only Arab state to of-� cially express reservations about the joint force at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit. l

Aligarh: ‘Ganesha’s wife’ worshipped in Aligarhn Tribune Desk

A baby girl born with a “trunk” has become a big attraction in Aligarh, where people are � ocking to worship her. They believe her to be an incarnation of lord Ganesha.

The child was born last Thursday with a protuberance between her two eyes which people believe resembles the trunk of the el-ephant god. l

Pakistan to get 8 submarines from Chinan Tribune Desk

Naval o� cials informed the Pakistani Stand-ing Committee on Defence Monday that the federal government has endorsed a summary to get eight submarines from China.

Pakistan's military has long been a major importer of defence equipment, particularly from key ally China. After the Cold War ended Pakistan began to deepen defence and eco-nomic ties with China. l

Politics spoils meat festival in India’a Kolkatan Tribune Desk

It was billed as a unique protest against the ban on cow slaughter in some Indian states. However, politics has cast a spoiler on what was to be the Kolkata’s show of de� ance against the assault on taste.

While it’s despair for those who had planned to let their eating do the talking and send across a subtle yet clear message by sampling the delectable kebab and tandoori spreads at the fest yesterday, the organisers aren’t likely to die wondering and have begun preparing for a legal battle against the venue authorities for cancelling the event.

The event, planned by Leftleaning NGOs at Muslim Institute on Park Street, was to host over 1,000 people. Former Lok Sabha Speak-er Somnath Chatterjee, former mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya and veteran Congress leader Abdul Mannan were to be among the high-pro� le guests at the event.

While the venue authorities were tight-lipped on why the event had to be cancelled, sources said they had to yield to political pressure.

A Trinamool MP claimed an obvious politi-cal motive behind hosting the event and said it was a CPI(M) ploy to draw minority votes in the KMC (Kolkata Municipal Corporation) polls.

Organisers said they would move court against the venue authorities for giving in to political pressure and canceling the event.

“We sense a conspiracy by the ruling Tri-namool Congress. We were told by authorities of the Muslim Institute that the event had to be cancelled at the very last moment. We see this is as Trinamool’s covert support to the BJP on the ban on cow slaughter. We’ll move court against the venue authorities for can-celing the event,” former CPI(M) councillor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan, who was to be one of the principal organisers of the event, told HT on Monday. l

Near miss for Etihad, Emirates � ights over Mumbai airspacen Tribune Desk

Emirates � ight EK-706 was heading to Dubai from Seychelles while Etihad � ight EY-622 was on way to Seychelles from Abu Dha-bi when they came tantalisingly close over Mumbai airspace, sources said.

A possible mishap involving aircraft of two Gulf carriers over Indian airspace early on Monday was averted when the Mumbai ATC alerted one of the commanders, aviation sources said on Tuesday.

The incident involving Emirates and Eti-had Airways was reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, which has started its investigation, the sources said.

While Emirates con� rmed the incident in a statement from Dubai, Etihad when contact-ed said it will respond soon.

The incident occured on the intervening night of March 29 and 30, when Emirates � ight EK-706 was heading to Dubai from Sey-chelles while Etihad � ight EY-622 was on way to Seychelles from Abu Dhabi. l

EDITORIAL12DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

The new law introducing jail sentences for factory owners who pollute rivers will only be e� ective if properly enforced.

It is certainly vital that government does more to protect the country’s rivers and waterways from industrial pollution. But while it is true existing penalties and � nes have not proved adequate to reduce the grow-ing pollution of our waterways, the real problem lies not in the absence of strin-gent enough laws, but in the ine� ective policing and enforcement of these laws.

The Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan who announced the new jail sentences, has repeatedly failed to do enough to protect our rivers.

His poor track record of handling past crises includes his ine� ectual response to December’s oil tanker capsize in the Sela river, which inundated environmentally precious sanctuaries in the Sundarbans.

Now, instead of correcting the min-istry’s former mistakes, there is tough talk of jail terms being added as a disincentive. This will not help if there is no improvement in enforcement and accountability.

Past faults in the upholding of anti-pollution laws need to be addressed across all government ministries and agencies.

If we are indeed serious about saving our rivers, we need tangible action to ensure proper enforcement of laws that sees perpetrators brought to book. Tougher laws can help, but to do good we need better systems and accountable politicians to make sure they are fully enforced.

Shipping minister needs to show results

Accountability and enforcement key to saving rivers

It is concerning that the three-member probe committee formed to look into the allegations of negligence by law enforcers during last month’s murder of Avijit Roy outside Dhaka University has found “no fault” among

on-duty police personnel.While it had previously said some

on-duty o� cials had not performed their duties properly at the time of the attack, the committee is now stating only that there may have been defects in co-ordi-nation.

At the time, it was widely noted that when Avijit and his wife Bonna were attacked, a number of on-duty policemen standing close by did not act to stop or apprehend the assailants. Given the high pro� le security attached to the book fair location at the time, this pointed to neg-ligence on the part of o� cers stationed nearby. This point has now been rein-forced by the help shown by courageous members of the public in apprehending the suspected attackers of Oyasiqur Rahman.

Speaking at a public meeting after the attack, a prime ministerial adviser had publicly recommended to the inspector general of police that the probe needed to “identify black sheep among the force” and hold them to account.

The probe committee consisting of police o� cials appears however to have interpreted the case in a defensive and narrow manner.

An independent inquiry is needed to make sure necessary lessons will be learned to prevent future negligence by law enforcers. Anything less will fail to reassure the public this case is being fully addressed, and any failings will be held to account.

Police probe fails to reassure especially now members of the public apprehended the attackers of Oyasiqur Rahman

Avijit’s case needs independent inquiry

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Maldives: A new democracy in crisisMarch 21

concernedWe need further awareness about the recent violence in the Maldives against Ban-galdeshi expatriates ... two deaths and three stabbings in less than a week! Bangaldeshis wanted to protest, but the government threatened to revoke the work permits of those who protest.

guiburiKangaroo court, banana republic.

bithufangiThe writer did not mention the Nasheed case, there are more questions to that.

matterEx-president Nasheed, who claims that he did not abduct criminal court’s chief judge, had indeed, during his presidential term, met with security forces following the abduction of the Judge, and admitted his deed. He or-dered the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) to kidnap Judge Abdulla Mohamed, and to detain him at an MNDF training base, Girifushi, without any legal documents or evidence, or notifying a court.

Judge Abdulla Mohamed’s family, the whole nation, and the courts were delib-erately kept in the dark about the judge’s whereabouts. Judge Abdulla Mohamed was also deprived of all fundamental human rights for nearly a month.

Some international organisational views are di� erent. Like HRCM, they investigated the Criminal Court’s Chief Judge abduction case during that time and they sent a charge sheet to PG to charge them with abduction and kidnapping. The prosecutor general charged the case against Ex-president Nash-eed in 2012. Under powers conferred upon the same under Article 223 of the constitu-tion, the prosecutor general withdrew the earlier charges on February 17 � led against ex-president Nasheed under Section 81 of the Penal Code 1968, and re-� led the same case at the male criminal court on February 22.

The charge against the four co-accused

in the matter was also re� led on the same grounds with similar amendment. Among the co-accused include inter alia, ex-president Nasheed’s former defense minister, chief of defense force, and the commander of the male area.

Sobebithufangi: Abdulla Mohamed was abducted by the country’s security forces by order of the head of the state, as the judge became a national security threat?

The judge released a suspected murder-er, who had criminal records and who was convicted for several other criminal acts, for not getting o� cial documents of the death case from Ministry of Health.

Judge Abdulla Mohamed also, on anoth-er occasion, had asked an underaged rape victim to recall the rape case in detail in the court room and perform some of the acts of the said rape case. He also asked the minor to touch her body parts, which is a shame to the whole judicial system.

The judge was arrested or abducted by the national security forces as he became a national security threat. President Nasheed should be given a fair trail. This whole case is biased and baseless and President Nasheed was arrested and Jailed for 13 years for political reasons -- ie to eliminate President Nasheed from contesting 2018 presidential election.

IbrahimSobe: If someone is a threat to national security, he should be arrested, not kid-napped, and he should be guaranteed basic rights for someone who is arrested. He must be presented to the court in 24 hours. His family must be noti� ed about his wherea-bouts.

Just because the president thinks some-one is a threat to national security, he can’t order the military to dislodge him from his house in the middle of the night.

Iit’s unconstitutional, unlawful, and simply unjusti� ed.

OPINION 13D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

n Nausheen Khan

Has it really been 20 years? How far have we come?

These were the questions that came up during the two weeks I spent at the 59th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations.

2015 is a special year for several reasons. It is the expiration date for the Millennium De-velopment Goals and the adoption of a new post-2015 development framework that pro-poses a comprehensive set of goals entitled “Sustainable Development Goals.” 2015 also marks the 20-year anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women that was held in Beijing in September 1995 that produced the historic Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This is considered to be the “most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women’s rights.”

I was not present in Beijing, and did not have the opportunity to be a part of the ener-getic, passionate, and dedicated civil society and NGO community of 30,000 activists that gathered to establish gender equality and empowerment of all women, everywhere.

However, I was fortunate to be one of the 9,000 registered civil society representatives from across the world that � ooded New York during the � rst weeks of March to discuss the progress since Beijing, experiences and best practices from the � eld, what challenges were encountered, and what the next steps should be.

As a CSW � rst-timer, I found that it was just as easy to get confused with the UN jargon and the di� erent negotiations and processes as it is to get lost among the thou-

sands of participants who are trying to keep up with their delegations, their colleagues, or the item that is next on the agenda.

However, what I found most useful in navigating through this labyrinth is joining one of the various caucuses that aim to in� u-ence the member states into formulating and adopting critical policies that a� ect our lives and our futures.

I actively participated in the process through the Women’s Rights Caucus, which included representatives of feminist and women’s organisations and organisations working to promote the full realisation of the rights of women and girls.

We were extremely dissatis� ed with the way we have been excluded from both the negotiation of the political declaration and the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) Methods of Work resolution. The growing concern emerges from the fact that the civil society is being strategically and intentionally restricted from the di� erent negotiations, shutting o� our collective voices, and prevent-ing us from holding our governments account-able to the commitments they have made.

Some of the tactics employed included pre-negotiating the Political Declaration for CSW59, preventing NGO observers from attending the negotiations of the agreed conclusions, placing the NGO interventions at the end after the government interven-tions during the general debates, when many member-states have already left the conference room, limiting the participation of (diverse) NGOs at the panels, roundtables, interactive dialogues, and so on.

The Women’s Right Caucus “counts on UN Women and member states to stand with us

in ensuring our seat at the decision-making table so that we can make sure that nothing is discussed about us without us.”

From two weeks of deliberations among member states, delegates, civil society, activists, parliamentarians, ministers, major groups, and stakeholders on the topic of gender equality, several themes or narratives emerged.

Although tremendous progress towards gender equality has been made, many of the gains are under threat due to grave challeng-es, which include economic inequalities, climate change, con� ict and displacement, violent extremism, and so on.

Another narrative placed forward by many western and emerging countries is the idea that investing in gender equality is smart economics and results in monetary bene� ts in terms of higher economic growth.

Although this may be true, this notion is problematic because of the fact that gender equality is � rst and foremost a human rights issue. I believe that using monetary bene� ts to entice member states to invest in gender equality is not the right approach, and this idea, although motivational, can have nega-tive consequences and undermine the gender equality and women’s rights movements.

Data, data, data -- in order to monitor pro-gress and make policy recommendations, we need data disaggregated by gender, age, race, ethnicity, geographical location and setting (urban vs rural), socio-economic status, and so on.

Although statistics are crucial, it is also important to take note of the qualitative changes and a number of new digital tools, such as social media, which could be the best

approach to track and publish these chang-es through storytelling. Last but not least, another important message that has been resonating for years is the importance of in-volving men and boys into the conversations and actions around gender equality.

We have been reiterating that gender equality is not a women’s issue and evidence from the di� erent interventions have shown that involving the 50% can have positive bene� ts not just for women, but women and men alike. As we re� ect upon the last 20 years and envision the next 20 years, what we need is strong political will and a compre-hensive accountability mechanism for moni-toring and review of the actions of both state and non-state actors, including multi-lateral institutions. l

Nausheen Khan is a democracy and human rights activist working at Khan Foundation.

n MJ Akbar

A perplexed question: Through which kink in our Freudian sub-strand has “saala” become a vituperative

pejorative across the Indian subcontinent? We may be divided by caste, creed, col-our, community, and country, but there is unprecedented unity within our cultural and linguistic commitment to “saala.”

You could be speaking in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, or indeed our healthy local variant of English, and “saala” (or “shala” in Bangla) will � nd its place on the roll of dishonour. You could run a course in an acting school over the many forms of intonation we use for this ubiquitous term.

Why?I don’t know. After all, it means nothing

more exciting than a younger brother-in-law, a fairly humdrum relationship in most families. Does “saala” represent some deep, dark, mys-terious guilt or desire whose meaning is be-yond the collective ability of psychoanalysts?  

Its overt meaning, however, is plain enough. When used in a � t of rage or outrage, it acquires a special virulence. Arvind Kejri-wal, chief minister of Delhi, fashionable hero of middle class moralists, and sacred hope of the capital’s newly-dispossessed, used it to describe the two men he currently loathes, his former comrades Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan.

He added “kameena” to the angry lexicon, dismissing their challenge as vicious be-trayal. The froth bubbling through his voice meant that this pent-up lava has been waiting on an opportunity to burst out.

Kejriwal, Bhushan, and Yadav constituted the triumvirate who created a party that has had the rare distinction of converting two very local victories into national news. Bhu-shan was the quiet ideologue, Yadav the chief strategist, and Kejriwal was the public cam-paigner and therefore presumptive leader.

Success was a result of complementary skills. Without Bhushan and Yadav’s help, Ke-jriwal could not have reached where he has.

But success is cruel, where failure is sym-pathetic, for triumph feeds the ego where defeat blunts its impulses. Kejriwal was hap-py, even anxious, to share street space with his mentors during the phase of agitation and struggle.

The podium is another story. The acronym for AAP becomes a very polite “you” in Hindi, and this happy pun was used e� ectively in the plea for votes. In power Kejriwal’s mes-sage is blunt. AAP has become “me.” It is now Kejriwal’s party. Others serve at his pleasure. He is not a � rst among equals. He is simply the � rst. Period.

Details of any divorce are titillating for a few minutes, and utterly boring thereaf-ter. But since the acrimonious AAP divorce involves disputes over property rights, the

interest will last a shade longer.  And because sanctimony is among the

claimed assets, arguments will also be holier than thou. It is already noticeable, however, that only the faction without power is laying any claim to morality. The Kejriwal lot, with one � eld marshal, 66 brigadiers, and ebbing platoons of infantry, has already told rules and regulations to take a running jump. Its new catechism is realpolitik.

This change took shape during the recent Delhi election campaign. Kejriwal collected funds without questioning the colour of that cash or the source of at least four Rs500,000 cheques that walked, without a crutch in sight, into his picnic hamper.

He sought money from dubious characters seeking a ticket, another dutiful homage to convention. His candidates distributed liquor to voters before polling day, as the police will testify in court.

What is interesting is Kejriwal’s repeated, livid, assertion that Bhushan and Yadav are “kameena” because they did their best to sabotage the party’s victory in Delhi. How precisely? Neither Bhushan nor Yadav said anything harmful about Kejriwal in any elec-tion speech or press conference.

They kept quiet about their reservations. We can only assume therefore that they must have been vocal in private, telling Kejriwal to maintain the values of integrity and transpar-ency which was part of their commitment to

the people.  Bhushan and Yadav thought this was their

party’s USP. Kejriwal was equally convinced that only Kejriwal was the USP. The rest is semantics.

The debate over whether the party should remain Delhi-centric or be more expansionist is irrelevant. Kejriwal has decided that the-oretical idealism was good for initial ballast, but will not serve in either preserving the party or running a government. 

He has given virtually every MLA a loaf or a � sh from the basket of power. They are ministers or parliamentary secretaries. What precisely is the function of the second cate-gory? Who knows? Who cares? But you will get a car and an o� ce and bragging rights.

When Kejriwal was sworn in as chief minister in 2014, he sang a number from a Dilip Kumar movie: Insaan ko insaan se ho bhai chara, yehi paigham hamara. He re-frained from music in 2015, but he could have considered another Dilip Kumar song: Saala, main to sahab ban gaya ...

In Arvind Kejriwal’s revised Model Code of Conduct, the destiny of brothers-in-law is the gloom of exile. Any brother ready to become a conventional outlaw, however, is most welcome. l

MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian. This article was � rst published in The Sunday Guardian.

20 years after Beijing

Law, outlaw, and brother-in-law

OPINION14DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

n Aaqib Md Shatil

At last, the BNP, desperately count-ing on its international friends to put an end to the current political stalemate, has found two new

friends in Aleem Dar and Ian Gould -- who have made the prime minister of the country, Mrs Sheikh Hasina Wazed, understand the necessity of fair umpiring in a game.

It seemed that the prime minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has realised how important it is to have fair umpires to ensure fair play on the � eld on March 19, when the national cricket team of the coun-try faced India in their quarter-� nal match on Melbourne Cricket Ground. After the match, our PM remarked that the national cricket team of India would not have been able to defeat Bangladesh had there been no umpiring errors.

The comments came after the shocking defeat of Bangladesh by India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 due to some very controversial and partial decisions of the umpires who were assigned to foresee the match. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) backed the umpires and their controversial calls in the � eld.

Let us take a look at what happened one year and three months ago, on January 5, 2014, when an election was held leaving half of the population of the country disenfran-chised and letting 21 people die within 24 hours on the election day.

The election was largely boycotted and deeply disputed as only 12 of the total 40

registered political parties had taken part. 153 members of the parliament were elected un-contested in that election, while not a single vote was cast in at least 40 polling centres.

The turnout was low, while reports of ex-tensive rigging were found on the pages of national dailies on the very next day of the election. Though the Election Commission had estimated that the turnout was 40%, un-o� cial accounts suggested that the turnout never exceeded 20-30%. London-based maga-zine The Economist termed it a farcical poll.

The “umpires” of that poll, the election commissioners, were criticised for their role during the election. 19 candidates, mostly rebels of the ruling party, boycotted the polls alleging massive rigging. However, their “ICC,” the interim government led by the AL chief, backed the Election Commission by thanking them for conducting the election.

The Bangladesh-India match reminded

many of the January 5 election. And for those who argue that BNP should have participated in the January 5 polls, the second quarter � nal of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 can be an eye-opener.

Had BNP joined the polls, they would have been made to lose it, the way Bangladesh was made to lose against India. And after the poll, with no possibilities of change in the result, there would have been a crying BNP, shocked by the result, angry over the whole thing, just like Bangladesh was after the match.

The BNP’s participation in the election could have hardly made any change; rather, it would have given the poll the credibility it needed. Boycotting the election was the best possible option the BNP had.

Let us compare these two events again: In cricket, umpiring errors are not a very rare case, in other words, controversial decisions of the umpires, especially in matches against the comparatively weaker teams, are very common in cricket. But when it comes to the World Cup, the tournament from where the cricket world gets their champion for the next four years, the umpires need to be very careful on the � eld.

The same goes for the elections in Bangla-desh. Voting errors, rigging, stu� ng, etc are not very uncommon experience in Bangla-desh, especially during the local government elections. But when it comes to the national election, the whole process must be carried out fairly and by a credible authority, since national elections decide who the ruler of the country will be for the next � ve years. There are undoubtedly certain di� erences between

a local body election and a national election. A neutral and credible authority is a must to foresee the national one.

In the quest for a credible authority to conduct the national election, it was AL who led a movement and established the caretaker government system in 1996. And again it was the AL who scrapped it from the constitution in 2011 after a Supreme Court appellate division verdict. The abolishment of the caretaker government system sparked violent protests all across the country, and ruined the economy in the process.

On the other hand, hundreds of people have been killed either by bomb attacks or by police � ring, while a handful of opposition leaders and activists, including a former state minister, have been forcefully disappeared since the abolishment of the caretaker gov-ernment system came in e� ect. A non-stop blockade has been carried on by the opposi-tion throughout the country since January 5 of this year, which has rendered district-level businesses dysfunctional.

It is high time we realised the actual crisis in Bangladesh, which has emerged due to the lack of trust between the parties. Bangladesh is badly in need of a number of fair umpires, a credible authority to foresee the next gen-eral election, whenever it takes place. And dialogue must be initiated between the major political parties to sort it out. The sooner, the better. l

Aaqib Md Shatil is an Executive of Brand Development at Build Better Bangladesh Foundation.

The right umpires

The Bangladesh-India match reminded many of the January 5 election

Politics can be a bit like cricket REUTERS

15D

TBusiness WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

German in� ation creeps higherin March

Oil prices to stabilizeas demand rises

Stocks post modest gains with high trading

17 1916

visit our website @www.dhakatribune.com

NBR pre-budgettalks begin today20

Ecnec okays grid expansion project to facilitate power imports from Indian Tribune Report

A project of Tk1,404.8 crore has been ap-proved for the expansion of Bangladesh-India (Bheramara-Baharampur) existing grid line to import an additional 500 megawatt of power from India.

The approval was given at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) meeting held at the NEC conference room yesterday.

Power Grid Company Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) will implement the Bangladesh (Bher-amara)-India (Baharampur) grid connection project by June 2018 with the Asian Develop-ment Bank providing Tk844.88 crore as pro-ject assistance.

The project works include construction of 12 km Bheramara-Ishwardi 230 KV dou-ble circuit transmission line, including river crossing, construction of Bheramara 500MW HVDC back-to-back substation.

The project was one of six development projects approved at the meeting. The total value of the projects is Tk52,778.11 crore.

Brie� ng reporters after the meeting, State Minister for Finance and Planning MA Man-nan said of the total project cost, Tk40,481.75 crore will come from the national excheq-uer, Tk117.76 crore from the respective or-ganisation’s own fund and the remaining Tk12,178.60 crore will be received as project assistance.

Replying to a question, the state minister said the import of power from India through this grid interconnection would be a win-win situation for both Bangladesh and India.

The Ecnec meeting also approved another project titled Tripura (India)-Comilla south substation (Bangladesh) grid interconnection project at a cost of Tk179.45 crore.

PGCB will implement the project by June 2016 under which Bangladesh would import 100MW of power from Palatana power station of Tripura through Comilla south power sub-station. l

Cautious comeback for businessas political violence easesn Kayes Sohel

Business got back its rhythm amid cautious mood as the violence eased but the political turmoil continues to deepen, according to people involved with the supply chain.

Suppliers and traders opined that supply of food grains and industrial raw materials across the country was restored but fear of re-turn of violence still hunted them due to the rolling transport blockade and shutdowns.

“We are back to business,” said Rustom Ali Khan, general secretary of Bangladesh Truck and Covered Van Owners’ Association.

But some stray incidents still happened, which scares us, he said.

Transport cost also fell compared to before and during political violence, as demand for vehicles declined due to the ongoing lean sea-son for exports, he said.

About compensation announced by the government for vehicles damaged in arson or vandalism during blockade and hartals, he said this compensation only covers 25% of their losses.

After weeks of deadly arson attacks by an-ti-government protesters enforcing transport blockade, commercial vehicles have slowly begun to return to the streets and highways due to strong monitoring of law-enforcing agencies.

Three months of the widespread violence

across the country has left at least 118 people dead, extended a stranglehold on the econo-my and cost the country thousands of crores.

The transport blockade called by the BNP-led 20-party alliance demanding a neutrally administered national election has continued non-stop for the past three months.

“Trucks loaded with vegetables are now plying as like as before,” said a vegetable trad-er Mohammad Abdar from Chuadanga dis-trict.

“At least 10 to 12 trucks left Dhaka tonight, which is quite normal in this period. The number will increase when new crops in sum-mer season will be harvested,” he added.

A factory owner said: “A couple of our pro-duction sites are located out of the city. Our supply chain remains una� ected throughout the week but we are closely watching the sit-uation.”

Abdul Matin, a trader in the city’s Karwan Bazar, said around 500 trucks were now en-tering the Karwan Bazar wholesale market every day. The number dropped to below 200 just one month ago.

“Vehicles, of which 60% from the north-ern districts, are coming here from across the county,” said Matin who belongs to North Kar-wan Bazar Beboshayi And Jono Kollyan Sami-ty, a platform of the local traders.

At present the fare of a truck carrying goods from Dinajpur to Dhaka ranges between

Tk12,000 and Tk14,000, which was over Tk 25,000 several days back, according to him.

Nizam Uddin, a trader in the city’s Badam-toli wholesale rice market said goods-carrying trucks are now available in the city.

“But businesses a� ected by the blockade is yet to recover losses,” said Nizam, also gener-al secretary of Badamtoli Chal Aratdar Malik Samity, an association of rice wholesalers.

“We are still afraid of political violence.” Nizam said the farmers have badly been af-

fected by the blockade as they failed to ship their produces to the capital and other plac-es of the country as the transportation cost soared.

He also said rice import from India was an additional pain for the farmers. l

With the political violence on the streets easing, the supply chain across the country is slowly becoming normal RAJIB DHAR

BUSINESS16DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

German in� ation creeps higher in Marchn AFP, Frankfurt

In� ation in Germany, Europe’s biggest econo-my, crept higher in March, driven by rebound-ing energy prices, preliminary data showed on Monday.

The national consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.3% year-on-year in March, up from 0.1% in February, the federal statistics o� ce Destatis said in a statement.

But the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) -- which is the yardstick used by the European Central Bank - was also back in positive territory, rising by 0.1% year-on-year in March, compared with a drop of 0.1% the previous month.

Nevertheless, both numbers are way below the ECB’s target of 2%, which the central bank de� nes as price stability.

The March data are still only preliminary, since they are based on consumer price statis-

tics from only six out of Germany’s 16 regional states.

Final data including all 16 states will be published on April 15, Destatis said.

Analysts said the data should o� er some hope that the eurozone can avoid a danger-ous de� ationary spiral of falling prices, since energy prices - which have fallen sharply in recent months - are now back on the increase.

The modest pick-up in in� ation “was driv-en by a modest rebound in the oil price, am-pli� ed by the weaker euro,” said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz.

Commerzbank economist Marco Wagner agreed.

“According to our calculations, this in-crease is mainly attributable to energy prices, which have been rising again since February,” he said.

“We assume that the in� ation rate in Ger-many will continue rising in the course of the

year. Energy prices will probably start to in-crease more quickly around mid-year. More-over, labour costs, which are accelerating in part due to the minimum wage, will also intensify the underlying in� ation pressure,” Wagner said.

The Commerzbank economist predicted that German in� ation could reach around 2% by the end of this year.

Capital Economics economist Jennifer McKeown said she expected energy prices “to continue to exert a heavy drag on the head-line rate for the next six months or so, which may see headline in� ation dip back into neg-ative territory in the near future. But the drag should ease somewhat later this year.”

Given the relative strength of the German economy, “there is little risk of sustained de-� ation in Germany. And temporary falls in in� ation and price cuts should have positive e� ects” on the economy, McKeown said. l

Euro under pressure on jitters over Greece debt dealn AFP, Tokyo

The euro drifted lower in Asia yesterday with investors following talks between debt-hit Greece and its international creditors as Ath-ens looks to reform its bailout obligations.

In Tokyo, the single currency slipped to $1.0813 and 129.92 yen, from $1.0825 and 130.10 yen in New York, while the dollar was at 120.16 yen against 120.18 yen.

Experts from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union are scrutinis-ing a list of reforms that Athens has proposed in its bid to get the creditors to release 7.2bn euros in much-needed loans that will help it avoid a default.

Greece’s government says the reforms would help raise an extra three billion euros for its co� ers without resorting to wage and pension cuts.

But European authorities warned Monday that there was still no deal.

“We’re not there yet,” European Com-mission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters. “This is why the talks should ben-e� t from further fact-� nding in Athens that should continue.”

A de� ant Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsip-ras told lawmakers late on Monday that he wanted a deal but would not submit to credi-tors unconditionally.

“We seek an honest compromise with our partners, but do not expect us to sign an un-conditional surrender,” he said during a par-liamentary grilling on the negotiations.

Tsipras swept to power on a pledge to end the austerity measures imposed as part of a bailout by Greece’s creditors, which Athens blames for hammering the economy.

“There are still di� erences between what Greece is apparently prepared to o� er in the way of further reform and what the Brussels group... is seeking before the... funds are made available,” National Australia Bank said in a note.

“This is sounding like a well and truly bro-ken record, but it is what it is. More meetings are planned... to work through their di� er-ences.” l

Japan denies plan to join China-led development bankn AFP, Tokyo

Japan yesterday ruled out any immediate plan to join the Beijing-backed Asian Infrastructure Invest-ment Bank (AIIB), categorically denying a news report that its ambassador to China said Tokyo is likely to take part.

The Financial Times reported that Masato Kitera, Tokyo’s envoy in Beijing, said in an interview Japan is likely to join the AIIB within a few months, a move that would leave Washington as the only big holdout. But Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said yesterday the ambassador had not made any such comment and Japan’s position on the AIIB had not changed.

“I have been informed that it is not true that Ambassador Kitera made such remarks forecasting (Japan’s) participation,” Suga told a news conference.

The report comes just before the end-March deadline China has set for participation in the bank

as a founding member.Australia, Britain, France, Germany, Italy

and Russia have all said they intend to join the Beijing-headquartered $50bn institution, despite scepticism in Washington and Tokyo. China’s neighbour and long-time foe Taiwan said Monday it would also make a formal application to join.

“Japan is dubious about whether (the AIIB) would be properly governed or whether it would damage other creditors,” Suga said. Japan is a key player in the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which would be a rival. “Anyway, I think it’s impossi-ble for Japan to take part today,” the government’s top spokesman said, adding that Tokyo would work together with Washington, its top ally, and other countries to ask Beijing for clari� cation.

The new multinational lender is seen as a threat to the World Bank and the ADB, two institutions that are heavily in� uenced by the US and Japan.

Washington has been left increasingly isolated

in its opposition to the AIIB, which opponents claim could end up as a Chinese vehicle that has low stan-dards on governance, the environment and social issues. President Barack Obama’s administration has waged an intense but low-pro� le lobbying cam-paign against it, but has watched with frustration as allies around the world pile in, with some hoping to curry favour in Beijing and others not wanting to miss out on a lucrative part of the world.

China is expected to foot the bulk of the initial money needed to get the AIIB started, with dona-tions from other members set to increase the size of the overall fund to more than $100bn.

Taiwan to apply to join AIIB Taiwan will submit an application to join the Bei-jing-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) yesterday, despite historical animosity and a lack of formal diplomatic relations between the island and China.

In a statement released late on Monday, Taiwan presidential o� ce spokesman Charles Chen said joining the AIIB will help Taiwan in its e� orts at regional economic integration and raise the possi-bility of joining other multinational bodies.

It was not immediately known whether Beijing would accept Taiwan’s application to join the AIIB. The bank is seen as a signi� cant setback to US e� orts to extend its in� uence in the Asia-Paci� c region and balance China’s growing � nancial clout and assertive-ness. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan due to pressure from China. Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations, the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund.

China set a Tuesday deadline to become a founding member of the AIIB, prompting a rush of nations including Russia, Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands to announce their intent to join. A total of 42 countries have applied, Taiwan’s statement said. l

The previous month, the consumer price index had risen by just 0.1% on a 12-month basis, the federal statistics o� ce Destatis said in a statement REUTERS

BUSINESS 17D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

n Reuters

Oil prices should stabilise in the second half of this year and rise in 2016 and 2017 as consum-ers respond to a period of much cheaper fuel, a Reuters poll of analysts showed on Monday.

The survey of 34 analysts predicted North Sea Brent crude LCOc1 would average $59.20 a barrel in 2015, up from around $55 so far this year. The forecast is up just 20 cents from the projection in last month’s Reuters survey.

Brent is expected to rise to $72.10 in 2016 and $78.70 in 2017, the poll showed.

Oil prices fell more than 60% between June 2014 and January, and although they have

recovered a little since then, they are still around half their level a year ago.

This has encouraged motorists to make more use of their cars and let factories and other businesses boost fuel consumption.

London-based consultancy Energy Aspects expects world oil demand to rise by up to 1.5 million barrels per day this year. That’s double the rate of oil demand growth seen last year, according to the International Energy Agency.

“Strength is broad-based,” Energy Aspects analyst Virendra Chauhan told Reuters Global Oil Forum. “On-road diesel demand has con-tinued at a stellar pace.”

Intesa Sanpaolo analyst Daniela Corsini

agreed, saying the rise in consumption ap-peared to be worldwide.

“Global oil demand will surprise upwards, driven by the United States, China and emerg-ing Asia,” Corsini said.

Increasing demand should help absorb any extra oil coming onto the market from Iran, if it can agree a nuclear deal with the West that would bring an end to sanctions.

And some analysts see demand outstrip-ping supply.

“The global market is expected to move into supply de� cit in the second half (this year), with that de� cit reaching 1 million bpd in the fourth quarter,” Standard Chartered an-

alyst Paul Horsnell said.Standard Chartered, one of the most bull-

ish banks, expects Brent to average $76.00 in 2015.

Twenty of the 32 analysts who contributed to both the February and March Reuters polls left their 2015 Brent forecasts unchanged. Six of them increased their outlooks, with equal numbers seeing lower prices.

European investment bank Barclays raised its Brent forecast for 2015 by $7 to $51, the big-gest increase by any contributor.

The poll forecasts US light crude CLc1 will average $53.60 a barrel this year and $66.50 in 2016. l

IDC: Apple Watch to spark wearable tech growthn AFP, Washington

Wearable technology devices are seeing a growth surge that is likely to continue over the next few years, helped by the soon-to-be-released Apple Watch, a market tracker said Monday.

IDC said it expected some 45.7 million wearable tech gadgets to be shipped globally this year, up 133 percent from 2014.

By 2019, the research � rm sees volumes of 126.1 million units, or an average growth pace of 45%.

Propelling the market higher will be de-vices like the Apple Watch, along with other smartwatches like Motorola’s Moto 360, and Samsung’s Gear watches.

Wrist-worn wearables, including bands, bracelets, and watches, will account for more

than 80% of the market over the coming years, IDC said. But it also sees strong growth in smart clothing - shirts, socks, hats, and other products with computing power - along with connected eyewear and earwear.

“Smart wearables are about to take a major step forward with the launch of the Apple Watch this year,” said IDC analyst Ramon Llamas.

“The Apple Watch raises the pro� le of wearables in general and there are many ven-dors and devices that are eager to share the spotlight. Basic wearables, meanwhile, will not disappear. In fact, we anticipate continued growth here as many segments of the market seek out simple, single-use wearable devices.”

IDC analyst Ryan Reith said that � tness bands, the early leader in wearables, have come down in price and are now being bun-dled with smartphones at little cost. l

IBM to invest $3bnin Internet ofThings unitn Reuters

International Business Machines Corp said yesterday it will invest $3bn over the next four years in a new ‘Internet of Things’unit, aiming to sell its expertise in gathering and making sense of the surge in real-time data.

The Armonk, New York-based technolo-gy company said its services will be based remotely in the cloud, and o� er companies ways to make use of the new and multiply-ing sources of data such as building sensors, smartphones and home appliances to en-hance their own products.

For its � rst major partnership, IBM said a unit of the Weather Co will move its weather data services onto IBM’s cloud, so that cus-tomers can use the data in tandem with IBM’s analytics tools. l

Google unveils uni� ed email for Android usersn AFP, San Francisco

Google said Monday it was updating its mo-bile Gmail app for Android device users to al-low them to manage multiple email accounts from a single program.

“Starting today, you’ll be able to view all your mail at once, regardless of which account it’s from, using the new ‘All Inboxes’ option,” Google software engineer Regis Decamps said in a blog post. “This way, you can read and re-spond to all your messages without having to hop between accounts.”

The new app will aggregate email from rival services such as Yahoo and Microsoft Outlook, among others. Gmail had allowed users to ac-cess multiple accounts from desktop comput-ers, but the new app aims to seamlessly inte-grate the various email services in a uni� ed inbox with search and preview capability. l

Oil prices to stabilize as demand risesPump jacks are seen in the Midway Sunset oil� eld, California REUTERS

BUSINESS18DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

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

Bank 241.95 5.34 18.10 4.02 260.05 5.22NBFI 125.54 2.77 138.31 30.74 263.85 5.30Investment 30.38 0.67 3.34 0.74 33.73 0.68Engineering 492.08 10.87 40.29 8.95 532.38 10.70Food & Allied 242.76 5.36 7.25 1.61 250.01 5.02Fuel & Power 1085.78 23.98 66.21 14.71 1151.99 23.15Jute 2.80 0.06 0.00 2.80 0.06Textile 391.79 8.65 45.27 10.06 437.06 8.78Pharma & Chemical 760.55 16.80 31.37 6.97 791.92 15.91Paper & Packaging 8.08 0.18 1.77 0.39 9.85 0.20Service 112.90 2.49 9.13 2.03 122.03 2.45Leather 26.10 0.58 2.34 0.52 28.43 0.57Ceramic 12.48 0.28 1.59 0.35 14.06 0.28Cement 225.74 4.99 23.06 5.13 248.80 5.00Information Technology 207.42 4.58 12.19 2.71 219.61 4.41General Insurance 21.04 0.46 0.63 0.14 21.66 0.44Life Insurance 71.60 1.58 0.93 0.21 72.53 1.46Telecom 329.12 7.27 24.80 5.51 353.92 7.11Travel & Leisure 35.72 0.79 8.24 1.83 43.96 0.88Miscellaneous 102.65 2.27 15.17 3.37 117.82 2.37Debenture 0.75 0.02 0.00 0.00 0.75 0.02

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

News, analysis and recent disclosuresPHOENIXFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 21.05.2015, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Muktijuddho Smrity Milonaya-ton (1st � oor), Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, 160/A, Kakrail, VIP Road, Dhaka-1000. Record Date: 13.04.2015. The Com-pany has also reported EPS of Tk. 1.64, NAV per share of Tk. 20.59 and NOCFPS of Tk. 3.81 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.CONTININS: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 01.06.2015, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Spectra Convention Centre Ltd., House 19, Road 7, Gulshan 1, Dhaka-1212. Record date: 16.04.2015. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 1.66, NAV per share of Tk. 17.51 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.71 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.DELTASPINN: WASO Credit Rating Company (BD) Ltd. (WCRCL) has announced the entity rating of the Company as BBB1 for long term and P3 for short term along with a stable outlook based on latest audited � nancial statements of the Company for the year 2013-2014 and other relevant quantitative and qualitative informa-tion of the Company.GPHISPAT: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to issue Rights shares at the rate of 1R:1 at an issue price of Tk. 20.00 (including premium of Tk. 10.00 each) on paid up capital subject to approval by shareholders in EGM and the Regulatory Authorities. Date of EGM: May 5, 2015, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong. Record date April 9, 2015. The purpose of the Rights Issue is to enhance Production Capacity of MS bar and Section product. Another record date for entitlement of the proposed rights shares to be noti� ed later after obtaining approval from BSEC.SINGERBD: The Company has further informed that the 35th AGM of the Company will now be held on April 30, 2015 at 10:00 AM instead of April 28, 2015. Other information of the AGM will remain unchanged.IPO Subscription: Tosrifa Industries Limited Subscription March 24, 2015 to March 31, 2015; NRB UPTO April 09, 2015. O� er Price per share Tk. 26.00, Market Lot (Shares) 200.Dividend/AGMUNITEDINS: 10% cash, AGM: 26.04.2015, Record date: 09.04.2015. EASTLAND: 10% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 31.05.2015, Record Date: 08.04.2015.RUPALIINS: 10% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 27.04.2015, Record Date: 08.04.2015.APEXFOOT: 55% cash, AGM: 30.04.2015, Record date: 09.04.2015.ISLAMICFIN: 8% cash and 4% stock, AGM: 14.05.2015, Record Date: 09.04.2015.

CSE GAINER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Monno Ceramic -B 10.00 10.00 26.40 26.40 26.40 26.40 0.020 0.20 132.0IDLC Finance -A 8.85 7.71 52.13 52.90 53.40 49.40 2.037 4.95 10.5Rahima Food -Z 8.16 8.24 31.80 31.80 31.80 31.80 0.001 -0.42 -veNational Tea -A 7.50 7.50 752.50 752.50 752.50 752.50 0.001 -6.49 -veBDCOM Online-A 6.69 3.70 24.95 25.50 25.80 24.00 0.146 1.68 14.9MutualTrust Bank-A 6.52 3.04 14.25 14.70 15.10 13.70 0.144 2.60 5.5Sonargaon Tex -Z 6.38 6.38 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 0.002 -0.84 -veBay Leasing.-A 5.79 3.47 25.07 25.60 25.90 24.00 0.153 2.28 11.0Bangas -A 5.61 2.98 353.30 359.60 362.00 338.60 2.275 5.54 63.8Khulna Power-A 5.58 2.93 63.19 64.30 64.70 61.90 9.132 6.36 9.9

DSE GAINER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

BD Fixed Income MF-A 9.26 9.26 5.90 5.90 5.90 5.90 0.005 0.48 12.3Hwa Well Textiles-A 6.69 4.28 29.26 30.30 30.80 27.00 3.550 2.66 11.0Global Insurance -A 6.21 4.94 14.87 15.40 15.40 14.00 1.374 1.12 13.3IDLC Finance -A 6.07 6.57 51.73 52.40 53.40 49.60 43.782 4.95 10.5Jute SpinnersA 6.00 6.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 53.00 0.000 -43.64 -veBangas -A 5.95 3.61 354.02 359.60 362.00 341.00 59.985 5.54 63.9Khulna Power-A 5.89 3.20 63.48 64.70 64.90 61.40 197.822 6.36 10.0BDCOM Online-A 5.35 3.46 25.15 25.60 26.00 24.50 17.365 1.68 15.0ICB AMCL3rd NRB MF-A 5.13 1.50 4.05 4.10 4.10 4.00 0.128 0.46 8.8Delta Brac HFCL-A 5.07 2.68 77.04 78.80 79.80 74.80 3.808 4.26 18.1

CSE LOSER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Midas Financing-Z -9.92 -9.77 11.82 11.80 11.90 11.80 0.007 -3.24 -veAsia Pasi� c Insu. -A -8.59 -8.59 14.90 14.90 14.90 14.90 0.001 2.32 6.4Prime Islami Life -A -6.08 -6.08 52.50 52.50 52.50 52.50 0.007 4.95 10.6Sandhani Life -A -5.08 -5.41 55.81 56.00 56.00 55.80 0.005 2.12 26.3NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A -4.88 -1.97 3.98 3.90 4.00 3.90 0.024 0.32 12.4Bangladesh Welding -Z -4.85 -4.85 15.70 15.70 15.80 15.60 0.065 0.44 35.7SonarBangla Insu. -A -4.38 -3.35 15.30 15.30 15.30 15.30 0.002 1.77 8.6National Feed-N -4.10 -3.70 23.92 23.40 24.80 23.20 2.223 1.37 17.5Pragati Gen. I -A -3.78 -3.97 35.53 35.60 35.60 35.50 0.004 2.47 14.4Ambee Pharma -A -3.70 -3.34 327.51 325.10 331.50 322.50 0.295 4.68 70.0

DSE LOSER

Company Closing (% Change)

Aver-age (%

Change)

Closin-gAvg. Closing DHIGH DLOW Turnover

in MillionLatest

EPSLatest

PE

Bangladesh Welding -Z -6.02 -7.18 15.52 15.60 16.50 15.00 3.152 0.44 35.3Modern Dyeing -Z -5.70 -5.06 75.00 74.50 80.00 74.40 0.030 -0.50 -veDhaka Bank -A -4.40 -1.12 17.58 17.40 18.00 17.30 1.303 1.36 12.9National Feed-N -4.12 -3.78 23.70 23.30 24.80 23.10 15.527 1.37 17.3Bangladesh Lamps -A -3.91 -2.92 114.00 112.90 117.20 111.50 3.009 1.13 100.9Monno Ceramic -B -3.85 -3.17 25.07 25.00 25.30 24.50 0.201 0.20 125.4Agrani Insurance -A -3.80 -3.75 15.16 15.20 15.40 15.00 0.437 1.97 7.7Imam Button -Z -3.74 -3.46 10.32 10.30 10.50 10.00 0.065 -1.48 -veAmbee Pharma -A -3.72 -2.58 331.05 325.70 341.00 322.70 9.137 4.68 70.7Desh Garments -A -3.52 -2.41 77.66 76.80 80.70 76.10 3.760 1.82 42.7

DSE key features March-31, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

4,527.23

Turnover (Volume)

87,837,044

Number of Contract

106,947

Traded Issues 314

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

111

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

194

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,533.12

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.70

CSE key features March-31, 2015Turnover (Million Taka)

449.99

Turnover (Volume)

18,923,658

Number of Contract

16,232

Traded Issues 244

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

96

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

139

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,440.07

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.58

BUSINESS 19D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Stocks post modest gains with high tradingn Tribune Report

Stocks registered a modest rise yesterday with a high volume of trade boosted by the fresh injection of fund.

However, the market went into the negative zone at the mid-ses-sion before buying pressure particularly on large cap issues helped the stocks end higher.

The benchmark index DSEX rose 21 points or 0.5% to 4,530, after losing in the previous session.

The Shariah Index DSES inched 6 points or 0.6% up to 1,103. The comprising blue chips DS30 gained 10 points or 0.7% to 1,728.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, settled at 8,434, shedding 32 points. Trading activities improved as turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange stood at Tk452 crore, hitting the highest level since December 4 last year.

The market breadth remained negative as out of 313 issues trad-ed, 123 advanced, 144 declined and 46 remained unchanged.

After su� ering over the several session, food and allied gained high-est 2.7%, driven by heavyweight BATBC that rallied more than 3%.

Investors still remained indi� erent to � nancial sectors as non life insurance, bank and non-banking � nancial institutions declined.

LankaBangla Securities said the market was very positive from the beginning as there was no strike.

Although there was a lot of up and down movements during the day, increased participation of the investors ultimately took the trading session to the green zone, it said.

IDLC Investments said the bourse observed an in� ux of money from the sideline, especially in the large caps in search of safe bets.

Mobil Jamuna Bangladesh was the most traded stocks with shares worth around Tk44 crore changing hands, followed by Grameenphone, ACI, Khulna Power Company, Lafarge Surma Ce-ment and Shasha Denim.

The top gainers included First Bangladesh Fixed Income Fund, Hwawell Textile, Global Insurance, IDLC, Khulna Power Company Limited and Bangas. l

There was a lot of up and down movements during the day, increased participation of the investors ultimately took the trading session to the green zone

ANALYST

Daily capital market highlightsDSE Broad Index : 4530.48314 (+) 0.47% ▲

DSE - 30 Index : 1728.47611 (+) 0.64% ▲

CSE All Share Index: 13864.50110 (+) 0.30% ▲

CSE - 30 Index : 11467.50240 (+) 0.39% ▲

CSE Selected Index : 8429.65400 (+) 0.34% ▲

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

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

Intl. Leasing-B 10,937,401 130.17 28.93 12.10 0.83 12.00 12.20 11.80 11.90MJL BD Ltd.-A 252,003 33.51 7.45 133.50 4.46 127.80 134.70 129.00 132.97Shasha Denims -N 579,417 24.48 5.44 41.90 2.70 40.80 43.10 41.00 42.24LafargeS Cement-Z 171,513 19.35 4.30 114.40 -0.69 115.20 115.50 110.80 112.83WesternMarine -N 404,837 17.96 3.99 44.90 4.18 43.10 45.00 43.30 44.36Grameenphone-A 42,382 15.20 3.38 359.00 1.61 353.30 360.50 355.00 358.73BEXIMCO Ltd. -A 337,145 10.86 2.41 32.20 0.31 32.10 32.60 31.60 32.21ACI Limited- A 19,340 10.39 2.31 534.40 -0.24 535.70 550.00 530.00 536.97BD Submarine Cable-A 78,107 9.59 2.13 122.50 1.24 121.00 124.20 122.00 122.83Khulna Power-A 144,520 9.13 2.03 64.30 5.58 60.90 64.70 61.90 63.19Shahjibazar Power-N 39,784 7.44 1.65 186.00 -2.11 190.00 192.00 183.00 186.97Agni Systems -A 222,667 7.13 1.58 32.50 4.84 31.00 32.70 31.40 32.01ACI Formulations-A 42,486 6.66 1.48 155.70 -2.50 159.70 161.00 154.50 156.71Zaheen Spinning -N 267,490 6.29 1.40 23.00 -1.29 23.30 24.20 22.70 23.53SummitAlliancePort.-A 100,773 5.58 1.24 55.10 -0.18 55.20 56.50 54.80 55.36Ifad Autos -N 74,674 4.87 1.08 65.00 0.62 64.60 66.00 61.50 65.24Square Pharma -A 18,534 4.85 1.08 262.90 1.04 260.20 263.20 259.50 261.51

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

Company Volume-Shares

Value in Million

% of Total-Turnover ClosingP Change

% ClosingY DHIGH DLOW Avg-Price

MJL BD Ltd.-A 3,310,944 439.51 9.71 133.70 4.62 127.80 134.70 128.50 132.74Grameenphone-A 823,691 295.28 6.52 358.20 1.53 352.80 361.00 354.50 358.48ACI Limited- A 377,204 203.01 4.48 535.20 0.15 534.40 547.00 530.40 538.18Khulna Power-A 3,116,210 197.82 4.37 64.70 5.89 61.10 64.90 61.40 63.48LafargeS Cement-Z 1,700,120 191.66 4.23 114.50 0.00 114.50 115.30 110.80 112.73Shasha Denims -N 4,235,764 180.16 3.98 42.00 2.19 41.10 43.70 41.50 42.53Square Pharma -A 592,823 154.88 3.42 263.10 1.70 258.70 263.70 258.60 261.26Ifad Autos -N 2,169,899 141.54 3.13 65.30 1.24 64.50 66.20 64.30 65.23Agni Systems -A 4,376,988 140.33 3.10 32.50 4.50 31.10 32.70 31.20 32.06BATBCL -A 34,333 108.34 2.39 3156.70 3.18 3059.50 3180.00 3063.00 3155.54WesternMarine -N 2,422,948 107.66 2.38 44.90 3.94 43.20 45.10 43.30 44.43ACI Formulations-A 505,923 79.35 1.75 156.00 -1.83 158.90 161.90 154.00 156.84Shahjibazar Power-N 409,097 76.17 1.68 184.90 -3.04 190.70 194.00 183.00 186.18DESCO Ltd. -A 1,151,974 73.97 1.63 65.90 3.29 63.80 66.30 62.90 64.21Pharma Aids A 230,156 69.28 1.53 300.40 -0.43 301.70 307.00 295.10 301.02BEXIMCO Ltd. -A 2,022,154 65.13 1.44 32.30 0.31 32.20 32.50 31.90 32.21

BUSINESS20DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

NBR pre-budget talks begin todayn Tribune Report

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) will start pre-budget meetings with di� erent stakeholders from today.

The month-long discussion will be attend-ed by representatives from all leading cham-bers, business organisations, and associations on the upcoming national budget for the cur-rent � scal year.

The pre-budget talks are a regular phe-nomenon every year and intended to make an inclusive budget.

A schedule of meetings was � nalised re-cently in this regard. NBR Chairman Md. No-jibur Rahman will chair the meetings which will continue till April 30.

On the � rst day, the representatives from service sectors named hotel, restaurants, guest houses and various service sector; pa-per, printing, publications, � lms and adver-tisement � rms; and clinic and diagnostic cen-tres will be heard.

On April 2, the NBR will hold discussions with stakeholders from construction sector (brick, sand, cement, steel, sanitary, ceramics and hardware); Real Estate & Housing Asso-ciation of Bangladesh (REHAB); medicine; rubber and plastic sector, Small, medium and large businesses and industries.

On April 5, the board will sit with Sylhet Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Representatives from Bangladesh Cham-ber of Industries, Dhaka Chamber of Com-merce and Industries (DCCI) and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI) will hold talks with NBR on April 7.

Talks with Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh-India Chamber of Commerce and leading chambers will be held on the same day in a separate meeting.

Meeting with export sectors with bond fa-cility (readymade garment, composite, pack-aging and accessories) is on April 8.

Discussions will be organised with � nan-cial institutions, Dhaka Stock Exchange and Chittagong Stock Exchange, and SME Foun-dation is on April 9.

On April 12, the tax authority will hold meetings with C&F agents, shipping, clearing

and forwarding associations, freight forward-ers, tax lawyers, and indenters.

Meeting with large taxpayers from ceramic sector, mobile operator companies and ciga-rette manufacturers is on April 15.

Meeting with agriculture and poultry sector; oil, gas, foods, beverages; chemical, paint, var-nish, leather and cosmetics sectors is on April 16.

On April 16, NBR will sit with electronics and electrical computer, ICT and telecommu-nications, and with automobile and transport sector representatives.

Meeting with Economic Reporters’ Forum is on April 19.

On April 26, NBR will sit with leading divi-sional chambers namely Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chittagong Metro-politan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and with C&F Association, Chittagong.

The month-long meetings will conclude on April 30 with the last one with representatives from Khulna Chamber of Commerce and In-dustries.

After the pre-budget talks, NBR and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Com-merce and Industry (FBCCI) is expected to jointly sit with the � nance minister at the “NBR-FBCCI Consultative Committee Meet-ing” on the � rst week of May.

The business representatives can directly place their recommendations to the � nance min-ister at that meeting for the next � scal budget.

Budget will be placed in the parliament in early June for the July-June � scal year.

The NBR has assigned its � rst secretary Abdus Samad Al Azad as chief budget coordi-nator. l

IPFF extends � nancing for new power projectn Tribune Report

Investment Promotion and Financing Facility (IPFF) Project of Bangladesh Bank, funded by the International Development Association (IDA) of World Bank and the Government of Bangladesh, has extended a term loan of $19.15 million equivalent to Tk149 crore to Midland Power Company Limited (MPCL).

The fund was awarded yesterday through the lead arranger, Eastern Bank, while Mutual Trust Bank and Trust Bank are also the syn-dicate members. Bangladesh Bank has been

implementing the PPP-based infrastructure development projects since 2007 on behalf of Finance Division under the Ministry.

Apart from this power plant, IPFF has � -nanced $154.72 million equivalent to Tk1,148 crore in nine power plants, one inland con-tainer depot, one IT infrastructure projectand three water treatment plants till date through Participating banks and � nancial institutions.

The World Bank released $81 million to the PPP-based infrastructure � nancing window yesterday. IPFF has disbursed 77% of the total fund on the same day. l

Citi ASEAN bosses arrive todayn Tribune Report

Citi’s Head of ASEAN and Country O� cer for Singapore, Michael Zink, will come to Dhaka today for a two-day o� cial visit, said a press release yesterday.

Michael will be accompanied by Melvyn Low, head of Treasury and Trade Solutions, ASEAN, and Manish Kumar, country risk manager for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The group is scheduled to meet senior Citi o� cials, key clients, senior government of-� cials and review Citi’s potential for further growth in Bangladesh.

During their visit, the high-ups will also

visit Citi’s operation in Chittagong as well as meet clients at the port city.

A 27-year Citi veteran, Michael Zink oversees Citi’s businesses in ASEAN that includes Singa-pore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Michael was appointed to this role in February 2012.

Based in Singapore, Citi’s ASEAN Treasury Head Melvyn Low is entrusted with strategic direction, product development, cash man-agement and trade � nance services while Country Risk Manager Manish Kumar cred-it approval and portfolio management in line with the bank’s risk-return metrics and streamlining overall risk processes. l

Government toimport 800,000 tonnes of urea n Asif Showkat Kallol

The government has planned to import 800,000 tonnes of urea fertilizer from Qatar under a state-level arrangement with a cost of around Tk3,200 crore for meeting the coun-try’s demand for the current � scal year.

As part of the yearly urea procurement plan from aboard, the Ministry of Industries will import the fertiliser from Chemical and Petro Chemical Marketing and Distribution Company (Muntajat) of Qatar.

According to an o� cial document, as the prices of urea is now too low in the interna-tional market, the agriculture input from Qa-tar will be cheaper than the previous price.

A proposal of the Industries Ministry is likely to be placed before the cabinet commit-tee on economic a� air scheduled for today, said an o� cial.

The cost of the imported fertiliser will be of Tk40,000 per tonne, but would be sold at Tk14,000 in the local market.

“Now, the stock of the country’s fertilizer is around 800,000 tonne and the demand for urea fertiliser will be increased in August be-cause of paddy season,” BFA Chairman Qam-rul Ashraf Khan told the Dhaka Tribune.

The country’s total yearly demand of urea is 2.7m tonnes, which comes from Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (KAFCO), Bangladesh and three other foreign countries – Saudi Ara-bia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates while rest of the amount is procured through inter-national tender. l

BRAC Bank partners Transfast to quicken money transfern Tribune Report

Global money transfer company Transfast, LLC and BRAC Bank Ltd of Bangladesh have teamed up to serve Transfast customers to make instant bank transfers into the accounts at BRAC Bank – the � rst-ever instant bank de-posit service to Bangladesh by a global money transfer company.

Under the agreement, Transfast customers will be able to send money online via mobile or through agent locations around the globe to their friends and family in Bangladesh.

The BRAC Bank account-holders can get the money directly from their bank accounts within minutes.

In addition to direct-to-bank depos-its, Transfast customers can pick up cashfrom any of BRAC Bank’s 166 branches, 50 SME unit o� ces and more than 100,000 bKash agents.

“We are excited to o� er our customers the ability to deposit money instantly and secure-ly there,” said Samish Kumar, CEO of Trans-fast at a press conference in a city restaurant yesterday. l

Eastern Bank Ltd (EBL) recently signed an agreement with Home n Décor, a concern of Building Technology and Ideas (bti) Ltd, o� ering special privileges to the EBL card-holders at Home n Décor

The � le photo shows Finance Minister AMA Muhith placing the 2014-15 � scal budget in the parliament

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INSIDE

Adding dimensions:One gracious way to welcome guests to your crib is by hanging a large mirror in the entryway. It re� ects light and makes the foyer look more spacious. Have a defect somewhere on the wall in your foyer? Just cover it up with one of these.

Rising re� ectionsPhoto: Sabah Rahman

Asia ascendantSa Meh Wa Meh’s Khao Swe taking the food industry by storm

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What was the original source of inspiration behind the Khao Swe line?One night, we decided to get burgers from a cart. While waiting to be served a friend suggested selling Khao Swe in the same manner. The idea stuck with me for a while and that's when I decided to take the plunge.

Initially was it di� cult to manage and fund your business? In the beginning I had discussed SMWM with two of my cousins and we were a team of three working towards getting the project o� the ground. So the capital investment was split three ways, which became a less daunting � gure for us.

According to you what was the toughest phase throughout your entrepreneurial journey?Proof of concept is the toughest. I really believe that people don't buy a product or a commodity, they buy a belief. It isn't su� cient to have a hunch, “Oh yeah, I can sell this cheaply so it will sell” or “This isn't available, so if it is it will sell.” Not only must you convince others that your idea is something worth doing or buying, but you must convince yourself. And there are always a million reasons not to take a risk, but convincing yourself to do so is the toughest. And you must be willing to slog it out.

Before Sa Meh Wa Meh, did you try your hand at any other start-up or entrepreneurial project?I started my � rst company at 17, after I graduated from boarding school. I took a gap year and launched an ice cube production plant in Chittagong, the � rst one of its kind after realising that the ice sold in markets were un� t for consumption. It wasn’t a wildly successful venture, but it did teach me a lot about perseverance and made me a � rm believer in Murphy’s law.

While I was in college I tried my hand at scrap trading with a friend, and that was the � rst time I felt like I was handling a substantial sum of money, and the fear of failure mixed with adrenaline sparked the drive to be an entrepreneur.

After graduating I moved to New York, and was collaborating with friends to get a real estate project o� the ground, but we just couldn’t make the time commitment, given our full time jobs. Since moving back to Bangladesh, I have done a little commodity and livestock trading alongside pursuing a few other things in the pipeline. However, the most prominent project I am involved with is A K Khan Plywood Co Ltd. a subsidiary of A K Khan Co Ltd. The work I have done for A K Khan Plywood has been the most challenging and rewarding in my career thus far and is also what I am most proud of. My experience here has single handedly impacted me as an entrepreneur, more than anything I have ever done before. During my university days I would also scalp tickets for events taking place at my university’s arena.

Tell us about your � rst customer or your � rst sale.The night before we launched, my head of Operations, Alif and I were forecasting sales figures for the week. We were trying to think about the bare minimum we’d have to sell daily to cover our expenses. It would be an understatement to say we were nervous. You know that moment when you start questioning yourself, and the concept, and your thoughts just start to scramble and you ask yourself, "What on Earth was I thinking doing this?" Well, that was the mood of our discussion. And then we started justifying the mistake to ourselves. “Hey, it's just money. This isn't our livelihoods on the line. We can sustain this hit. So what if no one orders?…” Yes,

we had started tumbling down that rabbit hole.

As a last minute prayer, we called our cousin Vidiya Khan and asked her to try our food and to promote us to her circle of friends. She was our � rst customer/sale and she worked wonders for us. Shamelessly name dropping and sending all her friends and acquaintances our way, before we knew it, we sold out. A big thank you to Vidiya, our � rst customer.

What's the magic behind Sa Meh Wa Meh's Khao Swe? What do you personally think is its USP?I wish there was magic behind the Khao Swe or a secret ingredient, or any aspect that can’t be replicated, therefore giving us a competitive advantage. But the truth is there isn’t any. I believe that we have a great chef and we put a lot of thought behind what we wanted to achieve and how we wanted to do so. I guess what sets us apart is the importance that we have placed on customer satisfaction. Unlike restaurants, we don’t get face-to-face time with our customers. So we needed to compensate for this in various ways. I would say that is our USP; our customer relations management with our inherent constraints.

If there’s one thing that keeps you up at night, or that you’re paranoid about – what is it?We source majority of our ingredients from Chittagong. For example the chillies we use are from a special region, the coconuts come from our own groves, and the protein is bought from vendors that our family has been using for decades. But all of this is also a logistical nightmare. Especially with the political activity going on, trying to coordinate our trucks getting to our kitchen on time and making sure we don’t skip a beat can be troubling.

n N Anita Amreen

Barely over two weeks have gone by and Sa Meh Wa Meh has been on the tip of every foodie's tongue. Coming up with a fresh concept of authentic Burmese Khao Swe delivery, their delicious dish and quirky packaging have cut into the traditional restaurant market, making them one of Hungry Naki's most requested deliveries. While restaurants come and restaurants go, only a few manage to stay current. While most entrepreneurs in the food service industry are riding the most obvious trends, Sherfehnaz Khan has bravely

pushed into an unknown territory, finding a niche that already has the city abuzz with whispers of a delectable Burmese delicacy. What began as a mere "passion project" has spurned itself into a full fledged takeaway restaurant that is sold out on most days.

As a driven, grounded individual Sherfehnaz has always believed in thinking out of the box, starting her very first entrepreneurial project at 17, launching the first of its kind ice cube production plant in Chittagong. Despite being a firm believer in Murphy's law, Sherfehnaz has been undaunted by the challenges that come with most

entrepreneurial projects, going on to indulge in commodity and livestock trading alongside working for A K Khan Plywood Co Ltd. As a young entrepreneur, Sherfehnaz is all about keeping the fences swinging. As a food enthusiast with Burmese heritage, Sherfehnaz launched Sa Meh Wa Meh on March 15, combining and taking her love for food and business savvy to greater heights. Today we go behind the scenes to find out what makes the Sa Meh Wa Meh machine tick by talking to the woman behind it all. We discuss her entrepreneurial roller-coaster, the story behind Sa Meh Wa Meh and how it felt to have her first customer.

I really believe that people don’t buy a product or a commodity, they buy a belief.... not only must you convince others that your idea is something worth doing or buying, but you must convince yourself. And there are always a million reasons not to take a risk, but convincing yourself to do so is the toughest.

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

LocationRoad 136House 12,Gulshan 1Ph: +8801865-662-606 HoursMon - Thu:11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Fri - Sat:7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Sun: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

For more information log on to www.facebook.com/samehwamehbd or www.samehwameh.com or order online through Hungrynaki.com

PHOTOS: COURTESY

What would you attribute Sa Meh Wa Meh’s success to?I don’t know if you can call us a “success” yet. We have only completed two weeks of operations. But I think the popularity of SMWM is due to our best e� orts to give our customers a unique experience. Firstly, there isn’t a Burmese restaurant in Bangladesh. Secondly, we realised that we won’t get to interact with our customers, so the very minimal interaction they do get with us, must be something memorable. That is the reasoning behind our packaging, and the way we handle our phone orders. Thirdly, and most importantly, we listen to the complaints and constructive criticism. It is easy to get a bad Facebook review, get disheartened and pretend it never happened. But we have decided that it isn’t acceptable for anyone to be unhappy with their SMWM experience. So when we do get negative feedback, we talk to that customer and try to get to the bottom of it. Why did it happen? And how do we prevent it from repeating itself?

How far are you willing to go to see Sa Meh Wa Meh succeed?Every business has a life cycle and certain ups and downs. Having said that, I will of course do all that is necessary for the company to succeed, but I think it is also important to realise when it is time to move on.

Tell us a little about the key milestones that you’d like to achieve within the next year.Honestly, this is a passion project for me. It is not about the recognition or the project’s feasibility. I just wanted to share food that I enjoy eating. So, there aren’t any goals or milestones in that sense. I just wanted to try something in the food and beverage industry, and I am happy that we were able to materialise a concept.

Are there any plans to expand the menu? If yes, what surprises are in store for us?We are always experimenting to improve on our existing food, and we just � nished our special for the Cricket World Cup. So, yes, there will be new menu items in the near future, but I’ll refrain from ruining the surprise. l

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

n Adila Hoque

No matter how much your life changed since you were � ve years old, you haven’t forgotten what it was like � ying back and forth in that red swing in your nursery play � eld. As an adult, swings have a lot more to o� er - it makes for a great fun retreat after a long day at work, and it serves the purpose of making your home appear more warm and playful.

Swings are something you can place in almost any part of the house - your front porch, living room, balcony, backyard, rooftop and even your bedroom. Just imagine yourself enjoying a cup of Earl Grey on a bright, sunny morning, swinging gently, taking in the early morning view. If you’re lucky, it might even save you a trip to the massage parlour.

When it comes to swings, there are almost countless options to choose from - wrought-iron, wooden and wicker hammock

chairs, and you should choose your type depending on where you intend to place them. Oh, and let’s not forget the classic tire swing! But it probably only applies if you have an open space in the front or the backyard.

Most people feel like their homes need to be large mansions to � t a normal-sized swing in them, but the truth, however could not be any more di� erent. You could replace your boring old couch in the living room to have a swing large enough to seat three to four people. Or if you feel like that might be too much of a gamble, have one wicker hammock swing hang from one corner of your living room or balcony.

Although swings are traditionally overlooked and very heavily undermined as home-decorating pieces, they are also growing increasingly popular when it comes to decorating modern homes. It is de� nitely something you should think about if you think your home has lost all its charm. l

Rocking back and forth

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Add an element of fun or two to your home decor

25D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

SYRIA RIDE ON KHARBIN TO PASS WITH DISTINCTION

VETTORI RETIRES FROM INT’L CRICKET

BCB LODGES OFFICIAL COMPLAINT TO ICC

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Bangladesh spinner Enamul Haque Jr did not forget to pay tribute to

legendary NZ cricketer Daniel Vettori who announced his retirement

yesterday. Enamul tweeted: “He was my inspiration. Dan vettori.”

INSPIRATION

Sport

Bangladesh, India end goalless campaignn Shishir Hoque

A spirited Bangladesh side concluded their AFC Under-23 Championship Group E Quali-� ers with a goalless draw against rivals India in a power-interrupted game at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The hosts were all over the visitors through-out the entire game, dominating mid� eld, holding ball possession and creating the most chances but a lack of composure in the � nal third ensured Bangladesh would end their campaign without a single goal to their name.

India also � nished the Quali� ers without scoring but ended third in the group, ahead of Bangladesh, due to a better goal di� erence.

Syria topped Group E with maximum nine points while Uzbekistan � nished second.

Bangladesh and India’s encounter yester-day was a repeat of the previous two clashes between the senior teams of the south Asian rivals in the last couple of years. While Bang-ladesh displayed better football on both the occasions, they were denied by some dogged Indian defending. Bangladesh striker Wahed Ahmed made way for Aminur Rahman Sajib and although the latter was unable to score a goal, his movement and ball distribution were more visible than Wahed.

Lodewijk de Kruif made two more changes in the line-up. Nurul Naim Faisal replaced the suspended captain Rayhan Hasan while de-

fender Shahedul Alam Shahed was included in place of right-back Nahidul Islam Nahid.

India on the other hand brought in two changes for the Bangladesh tie. Defender Sandesh came in place of the suspended cen-tre-back Shankar Samingiraj while forward Sumeet Passi started ahead of Rai Vinit.

The � rst half was not a memorable one for either side. The home side bossed mid-� eld but were unable to create any concrete chances. Instead, India almost went ahead in the 33rd minute when Holicharan Narzary snatched the ball from the feet of Faisal out-side the box. Faisal was anticipating a back-pass from Shakil Ahmed but Holicharan beat him to it. Faisal, however, atoned for his mis-

take by stopping Holicharan just when he was about to pull the trigger.

The game was then stopped for 21 minutes due to a sudden power failure. And it seemed like Bangladesh bene� tted the most from the unscheduled breather as they started the sec-ond half brightly. At the hour-mark, Yeasin Khan was unlucky not to connect his header from a Sohel Rana corner.

In a bid to break the deadlock, Toklis and Rubel were brought on in the � nal 10 minutes in place of Jewel Rana and Sojib. The young duo repaid the coach’s faith by continuously threatening the opposition terrain. However, the Indian backline held strong as the game petered out in a stalemate.l

De Kruif cries for proper guidancen Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh football head coach Lodewijk de Kruif urged for making more space for the na-tional U-23 players in the club teams and grow them capable of handling the future challenges.

“How can you expect these players to perform at the top level when they have not played any 90 minute match in the last one year, the � rst two matches were as expected. Syria and Uzbekistan were way ahead of us but in the last match we were a little bit better. In the second half or in the last 20 minutes we dominated with Sohel Rana and Toklis com-ing close to a strike but I admit I lacked a qual-ity striker,” said the Dutch after Bangladesh’s goalless draw with India in their last AFC U-23 quali� ers Group E match.

“All the positions of strikers in the Bangla-desh Premier Football league clubs are occu-pied by foreigners, how cane they develop? These Under-23 boys must play at least 25 matches in the league, they have to lay more international matches and they need proper guidance to be prepared for the future,” he said.

The Dutch expressed his disappointment in simple words. “Finishing at the bottom of the group is not desired by any coach, I am satis� ed with the last match but overall I am not happy.”

However, his counterpart Savio Medeira was more content with the outcome from his charges. Both Bangladesh and India crashed out of the quali� ers with one point each.

“This tournament showed where we and the South Asian football stand, we need very good grass root level programmes with e� cient coaches. My team played the � rst two matches at 3pm and that swapped all the energy out of my boys. I told not to give up in the last match and they fought till the end. With just 12 days of preparation I can’t ask more from them and I happy with my team,” said Medeira.l

Bangladesh striker Aminur Rahman Sajib tries to evade the challenge of an Indian defender during their � nal AFC Under-23 Championship Group E Quali� er at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Sport26DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

First sightings (January 18-21, 1997)At the age of 17, makes his � rst-class debut for Northern Districts against the touring England side in Hamilton, and snares Nasser Hussain as his � rst wicket, caught at slip attempting a drive.Test cricketer at 18 (February 6-10, 1997)Makes Test debut barely three weeks later, against the same opposition. Despite having turned 18 in the meantime, is still the youngest man to play Test cricket for New Zealand. Takes 2 for 98 and his � rst victim is, once again, Hussain.Youngest in ODIs (March 25, 1997)Becomes New Zealand’s youngest ODI player when he lines up against Sri Lanka. Is only given two overs, which cost 21 runs.Lethal against old enemy (Mar 11-15, 2000)Tears through Australia with 12 wickets in a losing Test side, and in the process becomes the youngest spinner to reach 100 Test wickets.Too much work? (September, 2000)Heavy bowling workload starts to take its toll, and he succumbs to stress fractures in his back which sideline him for several months.Test centurion (December 19-23, 2003)Scores his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 137 against Pakistan.Back in form (October, 2004)After a lean patch of form, returns to his dangerous self in a two-Test series against Bangladesh. Takes 20 wickets in the series at a cost of just 11.20 per victim.First-time captain (November 2, 2004)Captains New Zealand for the � rst time in an ODI. They enjoy a comfortable 138-run win over Bangladesh.Recognition at home (March, 2005)Is named New Zealand’s Player of the Year, just reward for a season that includes 42 Test wickets at 27 and 22 ODI victims at 20.And then there were three (Aug 7-8, 2005)Traps Heath Streak lbw in the Harare Test to become the third New Zealand bowler to reach 200 Test wickets, joining Chris Cairns and Richard Hadlee. Also has a match to remember for his blistering 82-ball century, the fastest by a New Zealander in Test cricket.New format, new captain (August, 2007)Is handed the captaincy for the ICC World Twenty20 after Fleming, who quit the ODI lead-ership following the World Cup, is not selected. New Zealand make it to the semi-� nal, losing to Pakistan.Full-time captain (November, 2007)Is named the leader of the side for a long term, starting with a two-Test series in South Africa, which New Zealand lose 2-0.Power? Responsibility? I’ll take it (Aug 23, 2009)Is appointed a national selector, with a for-malised voting right in the selection committee. Says he is objective enough and equipped enough to do the job.Excellent eight (August 26, 2009)Gets Kumar Sangakkara caught at midwicket, in the SSC Test, to complete the double 300 Test wickets and 3000 runs. Only seven others have managed that.The end? (September 28, 2014)A Test sabbatical for over two years. At 35 years old, his body was not keeping up and Vettori admitted his � ve-day career may be over.One last time (March 29, 2015)The World Cup � nal. New Zealand’s � rst World Cup � nal. Took down 15 batsmen and was an integral part of his side’s emphatic dominance at home. Became the � rst from his country to claim 300 ODI wicketsThe farewell (March 31, 2015)Daniel Vettori retires after an 18-year career in international cricket. One of three players in history to couple 300 Test wickets with with 4000 Test runs

BATTING AND FIELDING AVERAGES Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 4s 6s Ct StTests 113 174 23 4531 140 30.00 7787 58.18 6 23 556 17 58 0ODIs 295 187 57 2253 83 17.33 2715 82.98 0 4 175 15 88 0T20Is 34 22 6 205 38 12.81 190 107.89 0 0 14 2 9 0First-class 174 257 31 6695 140 29.62 9 34 98 0List A 365 241 65 3549 138 20.16 2 10 121 0Twenty20 134 86 25 1039 57 17.03 857 121.23 0 1 88 25 38 0

BOWLING AVERAGES Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10Tests 113 187 28814 12441 362 7/87 12/149 34.36 2.59 79.5 19 20 3ODIs 295 277 14060 9674 305 5/7 5/7 31.71 4.12 46.0 8 2 0T20Is 34 34 787 748 38 4/20 4/20 19.68 5.70 20.7 1 0 0First-class 174 41258 17981 565 7/87 31.82 2.61 73.0 33 3List A 365 17628 11993 387 5/7 5/7 30.98 4.08 45.5 8 2 0Twenty20 134 134 3032 3216 127 4/20 4/20 25.32 6.36 23.8 1 0 0

n Reuters, Wellington

New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori con� rmed what many expected in announc-ing his retirement from international cricket upon the team’s return from the World Cup on Tuesday.

The 36-year-old former captain had been widely expected to retire from international cricket at the conclusion of New Zealand’s in-volvement in the tournament.

New Zealand were beaten by seven wickets by co-hosts Australia in the � nal at the Mel-bourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, with Vettori su� ering a lower leg injury before the game.

He � nished with 0-25 from � ve overs, though took 15 wickets at 20.46 throughout the tournament with an economy rate of 4.04.

“It was my last game for New Zealand so it was a lovely way to � nish,” he told reporters at Auckland airport.

“It would have been great to win but I’m pretty proud of everyone and the way they’ve gone about things for the last six weeks.

“To be able to � nish in the � nal albeit without a win, I’m just very grateful for the amount of support I had particularly from Brendon (McCullum) and Mike (Hesson).

“To be able to get back from a number of injuries and to be here and to be part of it ... is something I’ll always treasure.”

Vettori retires as New Zealand’s most capped test and one-day player having played his 113th Test match against Pakistan in Unit-ed Arab Emirates last November, more than two years since his last appearance in the longest form of the game.

Achilles and back injuries restricted his ap-pearances in the latter years of his career but he worked hard on his � tness to be included in New Zealand’s World Cup squad.

He took his 300th ODI wicket during the tournament against Afghanistan in Napier, becoming the 12th bowler to achieve the mark. He � nished with 305 wickets in total from 295 games for New Zealand and a World XI.

Vettori is the ninth player to take more than 300 wickets in both tests and ODIs, hav-ing � nished his test career with 362 wickets and is the second-highest test wicket taker for New Zealand.

Fast bowler Richard Hadlee, the � rst man to 400 test wickets, ended his career with 431.

Vettori, who made his international debut as an 18-year-old, led the side following the retirement of Stephen Fleming in 2008 until after the 2011 World Cup.

A succession of injuries since then ended his hopes of surpassing Hadlee’s wickets tally, though Vettori scored more runs than the fast bowler, notching 4,531 runs in tests at an av-erage of exactly 30, with six centuries.

Across all teams, he is the most proli� c number eight batsman in tests, having scored 2,227 runs with four centuries at an average of just under 40 there. l

Daniel Vettori’s parents Robyn and Renzo Vettori with the news of their son’s 1997 Test debut

THE GENTLEMAN

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BCB lodges o� cial complaint to ICCn Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh Cricket Board CEO Nizamud-din Chowdhury revealed yesterday that the board has made an o� cial complaint to the International Cricket Council regarding con-troversial decisions by match o� cials during the 2015 ICC World Cup quarter-� nal between Bangladesh and India. According to the BCB high-up, a written complaint was made to the ICC on March 20, a day after the game took place in Melbourne.

The BCB CEO made the disclosure after Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond sent

a legal notice to the BCB authorities request-ing them to appeal to the ICC for punishing the umpires for their wrong decisions during the match. The SC lawyer had sent the notice to BCB president Nazmul Hasan, Secretary to the Sports Ministry and Bangladesh team manager Khaled Mahmud.

Nizamuddin said he is yet to receive the notice and can only comment further after receiving it. He also informed that the BCB is yet to get a reply from the ICC regarding their objection. Mahmud on the other hand re-mained tight-lipped on the issue and did not wish to comment.

In the notice it was mentioned that on-� eld umpires Ian Gould and Aleem Dar had given three wrong decisions during the match – the dismissals of Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Mahmudullah and the no-ball call of Rubel Hossain which denied the dismissal of Indian opener Rohit Sharma.

Rohit was adjudged not out in his 90s when he was caught at the deep square leg region. The on-� eld umpires were quick to rule out the delivery as a no-ball claiming that the ball was above the batsman’s waist. The quick decision surprised commentator Shane

Warne who agreed that generally the umpires take a little more time before making such de-cisions. At the same time, the replays showed that the ball was under the waist when the batsman played the stroke. Rohit went onto post 137 to allow India to go past the 300-run mark.

The Tigers faced another horrendous decision when Mahmudullah, in tremendous form having scored back-to-back centuries, was caught at � ne-leg by Shikhar Dhawan. Doubts immediately arosed as to whether his foot touched the rope when he took the catch. l

After England’s cricketers were left battered and bruised during a dismal World Cup campaign, another symbol of the English game took a beating on Monday when the famous Father Time weather vane at Lord’s was bu� eted by high winds. The vane, situated above the Lord’s Mound Stand clock, features a steel � gure of an elderly man with a scythe on his back putting a bail on some stumps, and is synonymous with cricket in England. But like the country’s national team, who tamely bowed out of the World Cup at the group stages, Father Time encountered some unexpectedly � erce turbulence and was left � at on his back by gales in north London over the weekend AFP

Fawad, Voges get Windies, Ashes call upn AFP, Sydney

Legspinner Fawad Ahmed, batsman Adam Voges and wicketkeeper Peter Nevill were all called up by Australia Tuesday for their up-coming tour of the West Indies and the Ashes campaign in England.

But there was no room in the 17-man squad for allrounders James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell, who were a potent part of Austral-ia’s one-day World Cup winning side.

Joe Burns was also overlooked, despite scor-ing two half-centuries in Australia’s last Test, against India in January, while paceman James Pattinson missed out with a hamstring injury, opening the door once again for Peter Siddle.

Australia play two Tests in the West Indies from June 5, with their � ve-Test Ashes series starting in England on July 8.

Pakistan-born Ahmed, who sought asy-lum in Australia in 2010, got the nod ahead of Ashton Agar as the second spinner behind Nathan Lyon after a stellar She� eld Shield season in which he took 48 wickets.

Voges won his place on the plane for sim-ilar reasons, with the 35-year-old Western

Australian captain smashing 1,358 Shield runs to be the season’s highest scorer and player of the year with an average of 104.46.

New South Wales keeper Nevill was picked as Brad Haddin’s understudy, preferred to Matthew Wade.

National selector Marsh said selectors could not ignore Ahmed and Voges after “sen-sational seasons” at domestic level.

Fast bowler Ryan Harris was included in the squad, but will only play the Ashes series, re-maining in Australia throughout the West Indies tour for the birth of his � rst child. While Faulkner and Maxwell missed out, selector Marsh cast an air of mystery over his plans for them.l

New Zealand cricket team coach Mike Hesson strides out amid massive applause at Queen’s Wharf, Auckland yesterday INTERNET

SQUADMichael Clarke (capt), Steve Smith, Fawad Ahmed, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris (Ashes only), Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nev-ill, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Adam Voges, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Sport28DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Khulna DSA, shop owners at loggerheads n Hedait Hossain from Khulna

Lack of coordination between the district sports association and the local business per-sonnel has delayed the renovation work of the Khulna Zila Stadium. The refurbishment work which was supposed to begin three months back is yet to see light.

The major issue here is that the shop owners in the stadium premises are looking for guar-antees that they will be given a shop following the renovation work but the Khulna Zila Sports Association has not given any such assurances.

A tender worth Tk8.75 crore was passed for the redecoration work one-and-a-half years ago. KZSA general secretary Kazi Sham-im Ahsan informed that the modernisation work has been planned by the government and they are only providing money to rebuild the stadium. KZSA is liable for building the market for which a lot of money will be need-ed. That is why KZSA is not being able to give any assurance to the shop owners.

“Tk8.75 crore has been passed by the gov-ernment to rebuild the stadium but I think it is not enough. More money is needed to re-build the stadium properly. I request every-one to coordinate and help us rebuild the sta-dium,” said Shamim.

On the other hand, former Zila Stadium Shop Owners Association general secretary Amin Ullah said the stadium does need an up-grade. However, interest of the shop owners should also be taken care of.

“The shop owners will only leave their shops if they are guaranteed one once the work is completed,” he added. l

Syria ride on Kharbin to pass with distinctionn Shishir Hoque

The fairy tale run of Omar Kharbin con-tinued as Syria main-tained their 100% winning record to

con� rm their place in the AFC U-23 Champi-onship 2016. Riding on Kharbin’s third con-secutive brace in the tournament quali� ers

Syria topped Group E beating a hard-working Uzbekistan 2-1 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

It was the third time in as many matches Kharbin drilled two in the opponent goal in-side the � rst 45 minutes as Syria went to the breather with the match half won. Dominat-ing football paid o� for the Syrians who could have gone ahead with Kharbin in the 16th min-ute, but the forward’s header on Yousef Kalfa’s

cross was only an alarm and hit the woodwork. Soon after though, Uzbekistan goalkeep-

er Akmal Tursunbaev produced the save of the tournament to deny Mohmood Albaher’s headed e� ort but Kharbin would not miss again and smashed home the rebounder.

The pair was in action once again at the stroke of half-time as Uzbek defender Sardor Rakhmanov’s took down Albaher inside the penalty area and Kharbin made no mistake in

converting the resulting spot kick.Uzbekistan, however, did threaten to make

a comeback by scoring from a lovely build-up in the 57th minute through, possibly their best player on the pitch, mid� elder Abbosbek Makhstaliev but that was that.

Syria progressed with six points and Uz-bekistan are left praying with three points to become one of the � ve best runners-up sides across 10 groups. l

The Syrian players celebrate their win over Uzbekistan in the AFC Under-23 Championship Group E Quali� ers at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Bangladesh Navy lifted the Citycell Independence Day basketball title beating Bangladesh Army 70-58 in the � nal at the Dhanmondi Indoor Basketball Gymnasium yesterday. President of Bangladesh Basketball Federation Dr. Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Suman Bhattacharjee, Citycell HR director along with other dignitaries were present during the presentation ceremony COURTESY

NAVY LIFT CITYCELL INDEPENDENCE DAY BASKETBALL

Action from the Independence Day Physically Challenged cricket match between Bangladesh Physically Challenged cricket team and an able team. The Physically Challenged side won the game by two runs at Dhaka University’s Jagannath Hall � eld yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Racial quotas controversy re-emerges in Proteas sport n AP, Cape Town

Did South Africa’s cricket team drop a white player and replace him with an injured black player for a World Cup semi� nal match to make its lineup more racially acceptable?

The question has revived an uncomfort-able conversation over race and change in South African sport, where the two most suc-cessful national teams — cricket and rugby —

are still mainly white more than two decades after the end of apartheid.

Sports minister Fikile Mbalula denied that he in� uenced the cricket team to drop white bowler Kyle Abbott for Vernon Philander in last week’s World Cup semi� nal against New Zealand. Mbalula, who is black, said he was responding to accusations made by “a dying breed of political dinosaurs.” He didn’t identi-fy the source of the accusations.l

Sport 29D

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

Vettel win is a relief for all except Mercedesn Reuters, Sepang

An ebullient Sebastian Vettel spoke at length about the importance of his � rst win for Fer-rari when addressing reporters after his Ma-laysian Grand Prix triumph on Sunday, yet his beaming smile pretty much said it all.

He was back, Ferrari were back and most importantly, Formula One was back.

Vettel upset the odds with a stunning drive at Sepang, overhauling pole-sitter Lewis Ham-ilton’s Mercedes thanks to Ferrari’s ability to get the best out of the faster medium-com-pound tyres in Malaysia’s sweltering heat.

The team tactics were also superb, opting to keep the four-time world champion out on track during an early safety car period as ri-vals dived into the pits for new tyres, and he rode the advantage all the way to the cheq-uered � ag.

Not only had the German and Ferrari claimed their � rst victories since 2013 but, by � nally � nding a way to beat the dominant Mercedes “fair and square” as he put it, the series can now hope for a proper title race.

The 2015 season is only two races old, yet before Malaysia Formula One was awash with negative storylines and feared Mercedes could win everything at a canter.

Red Bull’s Christian Horner, principal of Vet-tel’s once-dominant but now troubled former team, had suggested Mercedes needed to be reined in by the authorities to level things out.

Vettel’s own German Grand Prix had been

axed due to a lack of � nances and the confu-sion surrounding Fernando Alonso’s winter testing crash and withdrawal from the Mel-bourne opener all added to the negative tone.

A Ferrari victory was the shot in the arm that the sport needed. As Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg said on the podium at Sepang: “All I can say now, on behalf of our team is: Game on, Ferrari.”

Vettel, following in the footsteps of sev-en-times champion compatriot Michael

Schumacher, ful� lled a dream when he joined Ferrari at the end of last season but there re-mains plenty of work to do.

“Since I joined Ferrari I felt incredibly wel-come and together we have worked to im-prove things. The potential, as I always said, is huge, it’s good to see what a step forward we did over the winter,” Vettel said.

“This is a special day, it has been a while since both I and team won for the last time.l

Japan’s mid� elder Toshihiro Aoyama jumps into the air to celebrate his goal against Uzbekistan during their friendly match in Tokyo yesterday. Japan won the match 2-0 AFP

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel celebrates winning the Malaysian Grand Prix on the podium on Sunday REUTERS

Pietersen shouldn’t expect England recall says Stewartn AFP, London

Exiled England star Kevin Pietersen shouldn’t expect an international recall despite his re-turn to county cricket, according to his Surrey coach Alec Stewart.

Pietersen has rejoined Surrey to play in County Championship Division Two this sea-son in a bid to win a Test recall for England’s Ashes showdown with Australia later this year.

The 34-year-old South Africa-born bats-man was sacked by the England and Wales Cricket Board after the 2013-14 whitewash in Australia. ECB managing director Paul Down-ton insists Pietersen will not be brought back into the fold, while Test captain Alastair Cook rated the prospect “highly unlikely”, and for-mer England opener Stewart agrees.

“If England are winning, they have a good West Indies tour which we expect, then it’s going to take an injury or a huge loss of form for a vacancy to become available,” Stewart told BBC Radio Five Live. “But all Kevin can do and, that’s what he’s said to us, he’s going to score runs, sit back and see what happens.”

Pietersen was reported to have fallen out with several senior members of the England squad before he was axed, but Surrey director of cricket Stewart claimed he has never had any problems with his attitude.

“He’s been as good as gold with us. If he was a bad character we wouldn’t have had him,” Stewart said.

“Whenever he’s been with us he has been outstanding. He’s helped the youngsters, he’s been in the nets, he’s put on batting clinics and he’s tried his heart out. l

Djokovic, Nishikori and Raonic reach last 16 in Miamin Reuters, Miami

Defending champion Novak Djokovic defeat-ed Belgium’s Steve Darcis 6-0 7-5 on Monday to power into the last 16 of the Miami Open along with Japan’s Kei Nishikori, Canada’s Mi-los Raonic and American John Isner.

The Serbian world number one, who just like last year won at Indian Wells before heading to South Florida, will face Alexandr Dolgopolov, a 7-5 6-4 winner over Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, in the fourth round.

Djokovic, who is seeking a � fth win at Mi-ami, wrapped up a one-sided � rst set in 26 minutes but faced a sterner test in the second.

Darcis broke to go ahead 5-4 but after the Serb levelled up the set, he broke back and held on to secure the match.

Fourth-seed Nishikori had even less trou-ble as he crushed Serbia’s Viktor Troicki 6-2 6-2 in 63 minutes.

Troicki, who needed medical treatment to his left side during the match, struggled to cope with Nishikori throughout with the 25-year-old converting � ve of his six break points.

Raonic also moved into the fourth round after a hard-earned 6-1 5-7 7-6 (3) win over French 31st seed Jeremy Chardy.

Raonic was broken when serving for the match at 5-4 in the second and then Chardy went on to force the third set.l

Hummels hints on Man Utd switchn AFP, Berlin

Manchester United-target Mats Hummels admits he is pondering his future at Borussia Dortmund and refuses to rule out a transfer abroad.

“Everyone knows how much I like Dort-mund, but I also want us to have a powerful team which has a powerful approach,” Hum-mels told German magazine Kicker.

“I have had a few conversations recently, which were very relevant for me to get a gen-eral overview, but I haven’t made a decision about my future.”

The 26-year-old Germany international has a Dortmund contract until 2017.

But the World Cup-winner has long been courted by United, whose coach Louis van Gaal is seeking a defensive leader with the Premier League giants reported to be will-ing to meet Dortmund’s 35 million euro (US$37.9m) price tag.

“I often think that I de� nitely want to move abroad, but then there are other days where I say I don’t need it,” added Hummels.

“Basically, I think a foreign move would be good both for both personal and footballing developement, so it could well transpire that I’d someday like to move abroad.

“It’s de� nitely not the case that I am saying I will de� nitely go.

“When there is a decision from me in which direction things are heading, I’ll talk about it openly.

“I’m not a fan of those who claim they are staying, but behind the scenes have already secretly settled the matter.”

Dortmund host defending German cham-pions Bayern Munich on Saturday.l

DOWNTIME30DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

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 5 represents R so � ll R every time the � gure 5 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 Small nail (4)4 Long detailed story (4)8 Spirit (3)9 Spoken (4)10 Outer covering (4)11 Incline (5)12 Dexterous (4)14 Prosecute (3)15 Curve (3)17 Spinning toy (3)19 Dry, of champagne (3)21 Dash (4)23 Exhibits (5)26 Beak (4)27 Tree (4)28 Nothing (3)29 Copied (4)30 That following (4)

DOWN1 Container (6)2 Dry (4)3 Low sand hills (5)4 Sun personi� ed (3)5 Fragrance (5)6 Opening (3)7 Beverage (3)11 Metal (5)13 Electrical items (5)16 Summer hut (6)18 Disposed (5)20 Ship’s small room (5)22 African river (4)23 Mineral spring (3)24 Part of the body (3)25 Marry (3)

SUDOKU

SHOWTIME 31D

TWEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

WHAT TO WATCHTELEVISION

Amitabh Bachchan @SrBachchan T 1819 -Interesting talk with those in knowledge .. on digital platforms stored for eternity, there should be a ‘right to be forgotten’

Ricky Gervais @rickygervais Only 3 more days to wait for the Derek feature length special on @net� ix

Diddy @iamdiddy #Diddys15secof-motivation i’m Christopher Columbus! good morning everyone.! It’s time to go to… https://instagram.com/p/05EfWLJl1b/

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Distribution Rewired: helping � lmmakers explore new distribution channels

Helmut Dietl, 70, dies

n Showtime Desk

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has taken up an initiative to launch a two-day long event called Distribution Rewired to support � lmmakers and help them connect with online distributors. This “market” is one that is solely dedicated to emerging distribution models that include “direct” and “self-distribution.”

As part of EIFF industry programme, Distribution Rewired is all about informing � lmmakers about new distribution platforms alongside ensuring that great � lms � nd their way to audiences. The main segment of the event is the physical marketplace where � lmmakers will be given a solid platform to showcase their � lms to stakeholders including aggregators as well as related service providers.

EIFF is planning to raise $22,000 (£15,000) of essential funding through an Indiegogo campaign and will contribute $15,000 (£10,000) of in-kind costs towards the event.

The event will take place from June 22- 23 during the Edinburgh International Film Festival and will be managed by Holly Daniel, industry and talent development manager at EIFF, and Beatrice Neumann from BeA Film, a sales and distribution consultancy.

Mark Adams, the new EIFF artistic director said: “EIFF is dedicated to addressing the most current and relevant events for attending � lmmakers and industry professionals each year. The world of distribution has changed massively in recent years and Distribution Rewired will create a space that represents the importance of these changes whilst supporting � lmmakers in utilising the new models on o� er.” l

n Showtime Desk

Bavarian-born director, writer and producer Helmut Dietl recently passed away from lung cancer. He was 70.

Once described as “the German answer to Woody Allen”, Dietl was known to international audiences largely for his send-up of the fake Hitler diaries saga in the 1992 � lm Schtonk!, which was subsequently nominated for a best foreign language � lm Academy Award.

Dietl was already a famous name in German TV with critically acclaimed shows such as Münchner Geschichten (1974/5), Der Ganz Normale Wahnsinn (1979/80), Monaco Franze and the six-part series Kir Royal, a biting satire on Munich high society and tabloid journalism.

Schtonk! was followed by Rossini with a stellar cast including Uwe Ochsenknecht, Mario Adorf, Joachim Krol, Veronica Ferres and introducing the then little-known actress Martina Gedeck.Dietl’s later productions did not repeat the success of these two � lms but the director himself, who had publicly announced his illness in 2013, remained popular both in terms of � lm and television. Last year, the German Film Academy recognised his achievements with an Honorary German Film Award. l

World War Z C+HBO 9:30pmIt’s one man’s race against time as he plays a UN employee who is trying to prevent the deadly outbreak of a Zombie Pandemic which is toppling armies, nations and more so, threatening to wipe out humanity.Cast: Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Matthew Fox, Daniella Kertesz

47 Ronin B-Star World 7:13pmThe outcast Kai (Reeves) joins a group of ronin, led by Kuranosuke Oishi (Sanada), who seeks vengeance on Lord Kira (Asano) for killing their master and banishing the group. The ronin embark on a journey with challenges that would defeat most warriors.Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ko Shibasaki, Min Tanaka, Rinko Kikuchi, Tadanobu Asano

Paranormal Activity 4 C+Zee Studio 9:30pmKatie is possessed by a demon, kills her boyfriend Micah, sister Kristi, her husband Daniel and runs away with Kristi’s son Hunter. The story then takes a leap of 5 years and focuses on siblings Alex and Wyatt, Alex’s boyfriend Ben, and a frightening little boy across the street named Robbie. The family experiences weird stu� since the new neighbors moved in the town.Cast: Kathryn Newton, Matt Shively, Aiden Lovekamp, Brady Allen, Stephen Dunham

Screening around the townn Showtime Desk

April 3, The Hot SnowMarking the 70th anniversary of victory in Great Patriotric War of Russian People, the 1972 Soviet war � lm will be screened at the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Dhaka at 11am. Directed by Gabriel Ye-giazarov, the � lm is an adaptation of Yuri Bondarev’s eponymous novel, which was itself based on Bondarev’s own wartime experience as a battery commander in Stalingrad.

April 4, L’AvventuraItalian legend Michelangelo Antonioni’s masterwork will be screened at the Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct at 6.30pm. Bengal Cinematheque presents the show to uphold the � lms and ideas of cinema’s greatest two auteurs, Michelangelo Antonioni and Terrence Malick. Antonioni’s controversial international sensation is a gorgeously shot tale of modern ennui and spiritual isolation.

April 5, Tree of LifeThe Palme d’Or winner will be screened at the Daily Star-Bengal Arts Precinct at 6.30pm. Terrence Malick’s masterpiece follows the life journey of the eldest son, Jack, through the innocence of childhood to his disillusioned adult years as he tries to reconcile a complicated relationship with his father. Through Malick’s signa-ture imagery, the � lm depicted both brute nature and spiritual grace shape not only peoples’ lives as individuals and families, but all life. l

BACK PAGE32DT

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2015

BUSINESS MAKES CAUTIOUS COMEBACK PAGE 15

HELMUT DIETL, 70, DIES PAGE 27

BD, INDIA END GOALLESS CAMPAIGN PAGE 25

Freedom � ghters gather at the Suhrawardy Udyan in Dhaka yesterday to protest the prevailing political violence that has been claiming lives MEHEDI HASAN

Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers seek more timen Tribune Report

The defence of death row convict war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman yesterday moved a plea with the Appellate Division, second time in a month, seeking four-week adjourn-ment in the hearing on his review petition.

The apex court bench led by Chief Justice SK Sinha on March 9 set today for the hear-ing. The judge deferred the hearing allowing an adjournment petition � led by defence that

showed personal di� culties of senior lawyer Khandker Mahbub Hossain.

Yesterday, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers submitted the time plea saying that Khandker Mahbub, also an adviser to the BNP chief, was physically ill and had been advised by his doctor to take rest.

Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers � led the petition on March 5 seeking review of the death pen-alty upheld by the Appellate Division on No-

vember 3 last year. The full text of the Appellate Division

judgement was released on February 18 and the International Crimes Tribunal the following day issued a warrant to execute the death sentence. l

Indian police detain4 Bangladeshis innun gang rape casen Tribune Desk

Police in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, have de-tained four persons, claimed to be Bangla-deshis, in connection with the gang rape of an elderly nun in Ranaghat, West Bengal, and the subsequent robbery incident at a convent, Indian daily Hindustan Times reported.

Two persons each were detained on Mon-day and Tuesday. “All four are Bangladeshis. Ludhiana police commissioner himself is looking into it,” Dinkar Gupta, additional DGP (security), told Hindustan Times.

Naveen Singla, Ludhiana deputy commis-sioner, said: “We are interrogating them and also conducting search operations on the ba-sis of information received from them. Bengal police have been informed. At present, I can’t share anything more. It’s a sensitive matter.”

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) o� cials, with the assistance of Mumbai Po-lice crime branch, had made the � rst arrest in the case from a Mumbai slum in the wee hours of Thursday. The person was identi� ed as Sheikh Salim.

The next day, a CID team arrested Gopal Sarkar, a resident of Habra in North 24-Par-ganas for providing shelter to those who com-mitted the crime. Police said that eight people were involved and that after committing the crime they possibly � ed to Bangladesh.

The Ranaghat incident, which took place in the wee hours of March 14, came against the backdrop of attacks on the Christian com-munity and triggered shock waves.

The breakthroughs in the case came after Bengal police circulated photos of four culprits to state police authorities across the country. l

Iran-based human tra� cking gang leader detainedn Mohammad Jamil Khan

The CID has detained the leader of a human tra� cking gang, which collects ransoms by holding Bangladeshi expatriates as hostages in Iran and torturing them.

Nannu Miah, a Bangladesh-born human tra� cker based in Iran, was picked up at Dha-ka airport on Monday evening by the Criminal Investigation Department following his extra-dition from Iran.

Md Matiur Rahman, a special superintendent of CID, said Iranian police had previously caught the criminal and made arrangements for him to be sent back to Dhaka on a Fly Dubai � ight.

“Nannu and his associates arranged for Bangladeshi expatriates living in the UAE to move to European countries, but held them hostage them once they were outside the UAE. They were also involved in torturing the victims for ransoms,” Matiur told a press brie� ng at the CID headquarters in the capital yesterday.

“If anyone failed to pay the money to traf-� ckers, the criminals brutally tortured the

hostages before pushing them across the bor-der into Pakistan,” he said.

The CID o� cial added that law enforcers had been trying since 2012 to organise the capture and extradition of Nannu from Iran.

Originally from Sylhet, Nannu went to Iran 35 years ago and formed a human tra� cking syndicate there. CID o� cials claimed that Nannu was directly involved in kidnapping around 100 migrants and collecting ransoms from their families back in Bangladesh.

“Nannu, along with some Turkish and Pa-kistani tra� ckers, used speed boats to illegal-ly take the victims to Bandar Abbas in Iran, where they were held hostage,” said Special Superintendent of Police for the CID’s organ-ised crime unit, Mirza Abdullahel Baqui.

The CID provided information to the Inter-pol and the Iranian police, who arrested Nan-nu and sent him back to Bangladesh.

Nannu was shown arrested in a case � led with Dhaka’s Bhashantek police station in connection with the abduction of Bangla-deshi expatriate Sha� ul Alam in 2012. l

BTRC to monitor internet service qualityn Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The government has taken an initiative to set up a special monitoring arrangement for en-suring superior internet service quality.

The Post and Telecommunication Division has directed the telecom regulator to set up a special telephone hotline where users can easi-ly � le any complaint on internet service quality.

A letter in this regard, signed by Deputy Secretary Md Mahbub-Ul-Alam, was received by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regu-latory Commission (BTRC) on Monday. Sourc-es said the initiative came after a request from State Minister for ICT Division ZunaidAhmed Palak.

“We have already discussed the issue and decided to formulate a mobile team for sur-veillance,” a senior o� cial of the engineering and operation wing of the BTRC told the Dha-ka Tribune yesterday, adding that the team will be led by a deputy director-level o� cer from the wing

Seeking anonymity, he, however, admitted that it would not be easy to respond to every single complaint with limited resources.

Commenting on the directive for a tele-phone short code system, the BTRC o� cial said: “To launch a short code we need to set up a technical system which requires invest-ment and time.”

The BTRC currently has a programme that records objections from mobile phone users about service quality.

As of February, there are 4.34 crore active internet connections in the country, includ-ing 4.19 crore mobile internet users. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial O� ce: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com