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President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pay homage to the martyrs of Language Movement at the Central Shaheed Minar in the early hours of today SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Of the unsuccessful candidates, 55% failed to get the minimum pass mark in Bangla, 56% failed in English, and 38% failed both in English and Bangla. The 120 mark test, held under the arts faculty, had three sections Bangla (30 marks), English (30 marks) and
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News
3 Peoples rejection of violent politics has been made apparent in the first phase of the upazila parishad polls as voters elected Awami League-backed candidates in districts considered as Jamaat strongholds. unscrupulous middlemen luring them into paying cash for increase in allocations.
HOLIDAY
Friday, February 21, is a national and newspaper holiday on the occasion of the Mother Language Day. However, the Dhaka Tribune will be published on Saturday under special arrangement.
Nation
2
5TH PHASE LOCAL BODY ELECTION
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
n Mohammad Zakaria
After holding its first phase election, the Election Commission has declared that it will hold polls to 74 upazilas in fifth phase on March 31. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday announced the fifth phase poll schedule at a press conference at the EC secretariat in the capital. The last date of filing nomination paper is March 2 and the nomination would be scrutinised on March 5. The last day of withdrawal of nomination paper is March 12. The second phase of elections to 117 upazilas will be held on February 27 while in the third phase, 83 upazilas will go to polls on March 15 and 92 will come under the fourth phase of election on March 23. The CEC said the first phase upazila poll was held in a free and fair manner. Some stray incidents marked the first phase poll in some areas, the CEC admitted, but the commission would
make an all-out preparation for prevention of such incidents in the future. About the voters turnout in the first phase poll, Rakibuddin said there were around 60%-65% turnout of voters in 97 upazilas. A senior assistant secretary to the Election Commission yesterday said the commission would hold re-election to five centres of Sonatola upazila in Bogra for the post of vice-chairman and two centres in Sirajganj Ullahpara for the post of chairman. The commission has also announced the schedule of Dhamrai upazila poll to be held on March 23. It has announced the poll schedule of 465 of 487 upazilas in five phases. According to the EC officials, the upazila parishad poll would come to an end in the fifth phase. They said the commission did not announce the poll schedule to 22 upazilas. The commission would announce the poll schedule of some upazilas only after settling the demarcation issue. l
Bangladesh Sangskritik Karmi Sangha brings out a rally yesterday to mark the International Mother Language Day
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Earlier, the ICT 1 issued a warning to Bergman on February 19, 2012, for his article
The tribunal asked him to explain his critiques on March 6 in person or by engaging a lawyer following a petition by a Supreme Court lawyer, Adul Kalam Azad. The petitioner alleged Bergman termed the tribunals claim of 30 lakh martyrs as wrong. The petitioner said Bergman made the comments in his two blog posts on bangladeshwarcrimes.blogspost.com uploaded on November 11, 2011 and January 28, 2013, following the indictment of Jamaat leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee and death penalty awarded to Abul Kalam Azad alias Bachchu Razakar. After hearing, the three-member tribunal led by its Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan issued the order.
n Mohammad Zakaria
The first phase poll to 97 upazilas witnessed 62.44% voter turnout, Public Relations Department of the Election Commission said yesterday. In the third upazila parishad polls held in 2009, the turnout of voters was 68.32%. The election to 97 upazilas was held in the first phase on Wednesday when voters cast 62.44% vote for the posts of chairmen, vice-chairmen and reserved women vice-chairmen. A maximum turnout was noticed in Nachol upazila in Chapainowabganj at 81.62% while the lowest turnout was 37.20% in Jajira upazila in Shariatpur. Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad yesterday said around 60%-65% voters turned up in the first-phase poll as per the primary report. Senior Assistant Secretary to the EC, Farhad Hossain, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune the commission would get the final result of chairmen posts from the returning officers. l
The tribunal asked the lawyer, Mizan Sayeed, to clarify the legal position, as the ICT act states that only the prosecution could bring this type of petition. Mizan answered that the contemptuous acts and comments were brought to judicial notice, so the prosecution could take the process forward. When the tribunal asked what would happen if the prosecution showed no interest, the counsel answered that the tribunal could then issue suo moto in exercise of its inherent power under rule 46(a). Earlier, the ICT 1 issued a warning to Bergman on February 19, 2012, for his article A Crucial Period for ICT, published on October 2, 2011, mentioning that the reporter was found to be in contempt of court but was being let off in consideration of his social status. Meanwhile, the ICT 2 yesterday also allowed a defence petition that sought a user-friendly microbus for transporting war crimes accused Mir Kashem Ali back and forth between jail and tribunal premises. Kashem, who is facing trial on 14 counts of crimes against humanity, is now in Kashimpur jail. The tribunal also directed the accused to bear the expenses of his transport as they included this in their plea, which was filed on February 18. l
Homage paid
PAGE 1 COLUMN 6
when police opened fire on a protest rally demanding Bangla as the state language in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Another Shafiur Rahman died the next day. The protests began against a conspiracy by the then Pakistan leaders to declare Urdu as the only state language. President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the nation in paying homage by placing wreaths at the Central Shaheed Minar at one minute past midnight, according to the state news agency BSS. Marking the day, the Shaheed Minar premises were redecorated with paintings, buntings and Bangla verses upholding the spirit and sacrifice of the
Language Movement. Tight security was ensured at and around the venue to avert any untoward incident. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, leaders of other political parties, teachers, students, diplomats and representatives of various organisations, among others, paid their homage to the martyrs at the Shaheed Minar. The day is also observed across the world as the Unesco recognised February 21 as the International Mother Language Day on November 17, 1999. The day is a public holiday in Bangladesh. The national flag is hoisted at half-mast at all educational institutions and government, semi-government and autonomous offices. l
Post-poll violence
PAGE 1 COLUMN 6
Hatgopalpur police outpost, confirmed the incident. Separate clashes left over 11 supporters of both the Awami League and the BNP injured in sadar upazila and Sharishabari, while five people were arrested, reports our Jamalpur correspondent. In Sharishabari, supporters of proBNP candidate went on rampage and looted houses of over 12 Awami League supporters and at least 8 people were injured in attacks on them at Shibpur and Hirannabari villages. Kamrul Ehsan, officer-in-charge of Sharishabari police station, said additional forces were deployed in the area to avert further clash. On the other hand, in sadar upazila, supporters of pro-Awami League can-
didate who was defeated attacked a pro-BNP family, leaving three members of the family injured at Gobindapur village. A case, accusing 7-8 people was filed in this connection and 5 of the accused were arrested. At least 12 people were injured and offices of both the Awami League and the BNP were vandalised in a clash between two groups at Atpara of Sreenagar, our Munshiganj correspondent reports. Additional forces were deployed in the area. The clash erupted following a quarrel between the supporters of the Awami League and the BNP at Atpara Bazar, locals said. In Natore, at least seven people were injured in clash at Agtirail Government Primary School polling centre
on Wednesday, our correspondent reports. However, Singra police station OC Shafiqul Islam said he was not aware of any such incident. Our Rajbari correspondent reports: Baliakandi upazila unit Awami League President Abdul Hannan Master was beaten by the sons of the rebel candidate yesterday. Police said Abdul Hannan came under attack while he was returning home around 3pm. Abdul Hannan said rebel candidate Md Khalilur Rahaman failed in the election and as part of revenge, his sons Rezaul, 25, Ibrahim, 23, Chanu, 24, and their fellows made the attack. Baliakandi OC Abu Shama said a case was filed in this connection. l
Jamaat [who allegedly violated a written agreement with its ally BNP] led to the party-backed candidates poor result in the district. Historically, the BNP has never been very strong in Rangpur, the northernmost district of the country and also the homes of JaPa Chairman HM Ershad and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas in-laws. Interestingly, only one JaPa-backed candidate won in Wednesdays first phase of the upazila polls, that too not in Rangpur, but in Gaibandha. What is more interesting is that one of the two upazilas that went into polls, one was clinched by a Jamaat contender and the other by an independent candidate. Abul Masud Chowdhury Nantu, general secretary of Rangpur district unit JaPa, said: The result in the upazila polls is a reflection of the rift created among the party ranks surrounding the January 5 national election. In some uapzilas, rebel candidates
winning by big margins or coming out second behind the rival parties candidates show that both Awami League and BNP have made some mistake in picking candidates. Gopalganj home of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has always been known as an Awami League stronghold. But the party unexpectedly lost one of the two upazilas in the district in Wednesdays polls. In Moksedpur, an independent candidate defeated two Awami League candidates one backed by the party and one rebel. Qazi Ohid, organising secretary of Moksedpur upazila unit Awami League, said there had been some resentments among the party ranks because the local unit had been run by the same old committee for over a decade. Shaikh Atiar Rahman, a local Jubo League leader, said because the party had chosen the wrong candidate, the 65% Hindu voters, who always play crucial role in any election, got divided. That, he said, was reflected in the results. l
todays students is worse than those who got admitted into the university in the early eighties, said Syed Manzoorul Islam, a professor of the universitys English department. He blamed the existing method of communicative English taught as part of the Secondary School Certificate as well as the Higher Secondary Certificate levels. Literature was scrapped from the syllabus in SSC and HSC levels with the introduction of communicative English, affecting students scope for obtaining the power of imagination, he said, adding that the present content of communicative English would not be able to provide the students with a strong base in English language. Among the unsuccessful candidates in the C unit under the business studies faculty, 76% failed in the English sec-
tion, in which they needed 12 to pass. The other two units A and CHA have no minimum scoring requirement for English or Bangla. Musama Mehereen, who sat for this years B unit exam but did not pass the English section, said many students are afraid of what will be in the tests as the pre-admission coaching centres fail to give them a proper idea. The teachers at schools and colleges also failed to build a strong foundation in English as a subject, Musama claimed. Md Jasim Uddin Biswas, an English teacher at Residential Model School and College, said: I think the communicative method is the main reason for this failure. Students are choosing a shortcut way by practicing some selected passages, paragraphs, and filling in the blanks without practicing grammar properly In the exam, they are also getting
the same type of questions every year. As a result, they are securing good results in SSC and HSC exams but failing to pass in the competitive exams. Mostafijur Rahaman, a Bangla teacher at Bir Shreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, said: From my experience, I have seen that students do not put in the effort to know the Bangla language as they do for other subjects. Ignorance about the subject grows in their minds as their guardians do not inspire them. They think that since Bangla is their mother language, they can get good results without hard work. Manzoorul Islam stressed the need for a national language policy as well as effective training of English teachers. He also recommended setting up libraries in every school to help students develop reading habits from an early age. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
6
n Mohosinul Karim
The chairpersons of around 4,571 union parishads across the country have been instructed to be vigilant of unscrupulous middlemen attempting to lure them into paying cash for increases in allocations in their respective areas. KM Mozammel Haque, national project director of the Local Governance Support Project, gave the instructions yesterday. We have received allegations that some middlemen are trying to convince UP chairmen to pay them money for increases in development allocations from the project. There is no scope for increasing alloca-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
The projects director warned chairpersons they would be being cheated if they gave extra allocations. Mahbubur Rahman Tulu, president of Bangladesh Union Parishad Forum, said: We have got such messages on the issue. We will inform the union parishad chairmen across the country to keep them alert though there is no probability that the chairmen will be cheated. According to the project plan, the allocations would be spent on infrastructure development in the wards of the union parishads. The ward members will formulate small development projects in direct consultation
road accident
n Tribune Report
Two motorcyclists were killed as a bus crashed into their bike at Kumarpur in Sadar upazila yesterday. The deceased were identified as Shah Alam, 30, son of late Kasuar of Ghogadah, and Nur Jamal, 28, son of Jahur Uddin of Sapapara village in the upazila. Police said the bus hit the motorbike of the two youths
on Kurigram-Bhurungamari road around 11am, leaving them critically injured, reports UNB. Of them, Shah Alam succumbed to his injuries at Kurigram Sadar Hospital while Jamal died on the way to Rangpur Medical College Hospital. Police seized the bus and but its driver and his helper managed to escape, said officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station Abdul Baten Miah. l
People wander around Bhatarkhal slum in Barisal yesterday after a fire broke out there
8 Date KEY INFORMATION 9 Procurement Method FUNDING INFORMATION 10 Budget and Source of Funds 11 Development Partners (if applicable) PARTICULAR INFORMATION 12 Projce/ Program Code (if applicable) 13 Project/ Program Name (if applicable) 14 Tender Package No. 15 Tender Package Name
Tender Last Selling Date Tender Closing Date and Time Tender Opening Date and time Name & Address of the ofce(s) -Tender Document Available -Receiving Tender Document -Opening Tender Document 20 Pre-Tender Meeting INFORATION OF TENDER 21 Eligibility of Tender 22 Brief Description of Goods or Services Group A Description
16 17 18 19
i. Sofa Set (HATIL Model HPL-601-106-2-1-88 HPL-601106-2-2-88 & HCL-203-103-2-1-88, HCL-204-103-2-100) or equivalent quality B i. Sofa Set (HATIL Model HPL-601-103-9-1-44, HPLDTS Ofce, 1450/44,500/601-103-9-2-44) & HPL-603-101-2-1-88) or equivalent Lalmonirhat quality ii. Cushion Chair (HATIL Model HPL-508-102-6-1-44) of equivalent quality C i. Sofa Set (HATIL Model HPL-601-103-9-1-44, HPL-601DTS Ofce, 1450/45,500/103-9-2-44 & HPL-603-101-2-1-88) or equivalent quality. Lalmonirhat D i. Dressing Table (HATIL Model HCL-209-128-2-1-88) or DTS Ofce, 1450/45,500/equivalent quality. Lalmonirhat ii. Cushion Chair (Hatil Model HPL-508-102-6-1-44) or equivalent Quality. E i. Sofa Set (HATIL Model HPL-601-102-2-1-88, HPL-601DTS Ofce, 450/15,000/106-2-2-88 & HCL-203-103-2-1-88, HCL-204-103-2-1- Lalmonirhat 00 or equivalent quality. F i. Wheel Chair (OTOBI) Model HIWP003 SSAO009) or DTS Ofce, 450/15000/equivalent quality. Lalmonirhat DTS Ofce, 1250/38000/G i. Curtain (Best Quality) ii) FARE CHART MADE WITH POLY CARBON BOARD Lalmonirhat (41/2 X 31/2) & TIME TABLE MADE WITH POLY CARBON BOARD (5 x 6). PROCURING ENTITY DETAILS 23 Name of Ofcial Inviting Tender Md. Mostazer Rahman 24 Designation of Ofcial Inviting Tender Divisional Trafc Superintendent, BR, Lalmonirhat 25 Address of Ofcial Inviting Tender DTS Ofce, Bangladesh Railway, Lalmonirhat 26 Contact details of Ofcial Inviting Tender 01711691650 27 The Procuring Entity reserves the right to accept or reject any or all tenders.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
back a new loan instalment until it sees stability in Kiev, has condemned EU and US support of the opposition demands that Yanukovich, elected in 2010, should share power and hold new elections. In an apparent criticism of Yanukovichs handling of the crisis, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday that Moscow could only cooperate fully with Ukraine when its leadership was in good shape, Interfax reported. The crisis in the sprawling country of 46 million with an ailing economy and endemic corruption has mounted since Yanukovich, under pressure from the Kremlin, took a $15-billion Russian bailout instead of a wide-ranging deal with the EU. The United States stepped up pressure on Wednesday by imposing travel bans on 20 senior Ukrainian officials, and European Union foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels later on Thursday to consider similar measures. A statement on Yanukovichs website announced an accord late on Wednesday with opposition leaders for the start to negotiations with the aim of ending bloodshed, and stabilizing the situation in the state in the interest of social peace. l
Ukraine clashes kill 21 more, Pakistan airstrikes on Taliban hideouts kill 15 EU talks shifted
n Reuters
At least 21 civilians were killed in fresh fighting in Kiev on Thursday, shattering an overnight truce declared by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, and a presidential statement said dozens of police were also dead or wounded. Activists hurling petrol bombs and paving stones drove riot police off a corner of the central Independence Square, known as the Maidan, and appeared to capture several uniformed officers. Police responded with stun grenades. The clashes erupted shortly before three visiting European foreign ministers were due to meet the Russian-backed Yanukovich to push for a compromise with his pro-European opponents. The meeting was delayed for security reasons but began an hour late. A Reuters photographer counted 21 bodies in civilian clothes in three places on the square, a few hundred meters (yards) from the presidency. That raised the death toll since Tuesday to at least 43, by far the bloodiest hours of Ukraines 22-year post-Soviet history. A statement from Yanukovichs office said: They (the protesters) went on to the offensive. They are working in organized groups. They are using firearms, including sniper rifles. They are shooting to kill. The number of dead and injured among police officers is dozens, the statement on the presidential website said. Shortly after 9 a.m. (0700 GMT), the protesters advanced to a line closer to Yanukovichs office and parliament. Television showed activists in combat fatigues leading several captured, uniformed policemen across the square. Both sides have accused the other of using live ammunition. The foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland were expected to present Yanukovich with a mixture of sanctions and enticements to make a deal with his opponents that could end the bloodshed. Black smoke, denotations and gunfire around presidential palace ... Officials panicky, tweeted Polish minister Radoslaw Sikorski to explain the delay in the meeting. Pro-EU activists have been keeping vigil in the square since the president turned his back on a trade pact with the bloc in November and accepted financial aid from Moscow. Russia, which has been holding
n AFP, Miranshah
Pakistani jets launched multiple strikes on Taliban holdouts in the northwest on Thursday, killing at least 15 in retaliation for a string of attacks by the militants which has derailed peace talks. The first strike confirmed by security officials came early Thursday when jets bombed several locations including a compound in the town of Mir Ali and surrounding areas of North Waziristan. There are confirmed reports of 15 militants including foreigners killed in these airstrikes, a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. A second targeted militants hiding in the Khyber tribal district who are suspected of bombing a cinema in Peshawar last week and killing an army major on Tuesday, a second security official said. The twin strikes and spiralling violence leaves a troubled peace process between the government and the insurgents in further doubt just three weeks after talks began. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) had offered a ceasefire on Wednesday on condition that government forces stopped killing and arresting their members. l
AFGHANISTAN
ARABIAN SEA
India court seeks age reports in Danish rape case n AFP, New Delhi
An Indian judge Thursday ordered reports to determine the age of one of six suspects accused of the gang-rape of a Danish tourist, as the group appeared in court. Defence lawyers said the defendant claimed that he was a minor, which would mean he could expect a much lighter sentence than his five co-accused if found guilty of the January 14 attack in New Delhi. Presiding judge Sudhanshu Kaushik ordered the lawyers to provide reports by the next hearing on March 6 at the court in the capital. The suspects were all remanded in custody until then. The assault on the 51-year-old Dane, who was attacked at knifepoint after losing her way in central Delhi, was the latest in a series of sex attacks on foreigners in India. A Polish woman was drugged and raped as she travelled to Delhi with her two-year-old daughter in January, while a US tourist was gang-raped last June in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh. The issue of womens safety in the capital was also highlighted by the gang-rape of a student on a bus in December 2012 which sparked mass protests. l
China aims for Nanjings Japan public sceptical history to speak loudly on death penalty
n Reuters, Nanjing
China pressed a propaganda campaign against Japan this week with a guided visit to the site of the 1937 Nanjing massacre, holding up proof to refute doubts by some in Japan about the extent of the atrocity or even that it happened at all. Chinas ties with Japan have long been poisoned by what China sees as Japans failure to atone for its occupation of parts of China before and during World War Two. China is determined to sustain the memories. Japanese leaders have made repeated apologies for the suffering that Japans Imperial Army inflicted but remarks by conservative politicians have cast doubt on Japans sincerity. Japanese troops battling Chinese forces captured Nanjing in late 1937. The city, then known as Nanking, was the Chinese capital. China says in the weeks that followed, Japanese troops killed 300,000 people. A post-war Allied tribunal put the death toll at 142,000. To the fury of China, some conservative Japanese politicians and academics deny that the massacre took place, or they put the death toll much lower. Just this month, China criticized a member of the board of Japans state broadcaster for saying the massacre did not happen. l
n AFP, Tokyo
Japans public is less enthusiastic about capital punishment than government research shows, a new study has claimed, amid an acceleration in the rate of executions under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The research comes as a Tokyo cinema holds a week-long festival of films on the death penalty, and amid continued pressure from rights groups who say Japan should join most other advanced economies in abolishing the practice. Mai Sato, a criminology researcher at Britains Oxford University who led the study, said when the public is
Top Singapore diplomat jailed over false claims for pineapple tarts, wine
n AFP, Singapore
A high-ranking Singapore diplomat was jailed for 15 months Thursday for inflating expenses for thousands of dollars worth of pineapple tarts and wine bought as gifts for foreign dignitaries. Lim Cheng Hoe, 61, the former head of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had pleaded guilty on Monday to ten charges of submitting falsified claims. State prosecutors had initially slapped him with 60 charges of overbilling the government for gifts bought for foreign officials during overseas visits, totalling Sg$88,997 (US$70,280). This case has caused public disquiet as it involved a high-ranking public officer who deceitfully obtained public funds by virtue of his position and the trust reposed in him, district court Judge Eddy Tham said in a written judgement. Lim headed the foreign ministry department responsible for organising ministerial and presidential trips overseas. According to charge sheets, he claimed for more than 10,000 boxes of pineapple tarts, a savoury popular in Singapore, but only 2,200 were used as gifts. Lim asked vendors for blank receipts and overstated the number of boxes purchased. He also claimed for 248 bottles of wine but only bought 89. In another case Peter Lim, the former head of the civil defence force, was jailed for six months last year for receiving oral sex from a female executive of a defence supplier in return for favours. l
asked to make an informed choice on the death penalty, many more people are opposed. I think my survey can show that even if the government abolishes the death penalty tomorrow, the people will be able to accept that, she told AFP. The last government poll on the subject, in 2009, showed 86% of those questioned supported the death penalty, a figure Tokyo frequently cites to defend the practice. Rights groups say it is barbaric, partly because inmates can languish in solitary confinement on death row for years or even decades, and are only told of their impending hanging a few hours in advance. l
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Fears regarding the one-sided January 5 polls may have been overblown
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
t seems as though reports of the BNPs death may have been greatly exaggerated. There is no question that the partys ability to mobilise on the streets has been compromised (no bad thing) and it may well have been outsmarted and outmaneuvered by the AL when it came to theJanuary 5 elections. But the first phase of the upazila chairman elections suggests that the party is in good shape when it comes to getting out the vote, and in a democracy surely that is the one criterion that really counts. BNP-backed candidates won a comfortable plurality of the seats available, and their claims that they would have won even more had the vote been fairer are certainly plausible. Either way, the point is that candidates backed by the BNP and its allies won well over half of the 97 UZ chairman posts up for grabs, while ALbacked candidates bagged less than a third. Any irregularities were able to be reported in real time and covered by the media, with the EC making credible promises to investigate. In short, the results were not only a success for the BNP, but also, when you think about it, something of a success for the AL. The AL had long been touting its fine record in administering local level polls over the past five years as evidence that it could be trusted to hold theJanuary 5national elections. It is too early to make a final call on this, but if the upazila elections continue in the same vein as they have start-
The lesson here should be clear: Not only should the BNP come to and contest every election that it can, but that it needs to abandon violence
Had the BNP taken part in theJanuary 5elections, it is hard to see how it would have been much worse off. They may well have won the election had they participated, regardless of machinations (if any) on the part of the ruling administration. Had the AL rigged the election, as BNP were sure they would, it would have provided BNP with a much stronger casus belli to oppose the current government than it has now. The final option would have been that the AL might have squeaked by in a relatively fair election. Clearly, it was this option that weighed on the BNP much more than the possibility of the AL stealing the election. But surely that would have been better than where they are now In the final analysis, boycotting an election only makes sense if you can for fresh polls immediately. Either way, the events of the past few months should have taught the BNP something. The first is that a campaign of violence is not only wrong and not only likely to harm their credibility in the eyes of the people, but that it does not and will not work. The correlation between the abandonment of violence and the results of the upazila polls should be lost on no one. The lesson here should be clear: Not only should the BNP come to and contest every election that it can, but that it needs to abandon violence, and especially violence that targets innocent civilians, as a means to press its case. Imagine if the BNP had announced in September that it would take part in the election and had started campaigning then.
It could have taken up the AL offer of seats in the interim cabinet, including the Home Ministry, and it might even have been able to force a neutral head of the interim government. Even with the PM at the head of the interim government, the threat of a last minute boycott could well have been enough to have kept the process honest. And had it not, then a last minute pullout would have been far more effective than a pre-emptive boycott. So where should the BNP go from here? As the Dhaka Tribune poll revealed last week, the Bangladeshi public still wants a fresh election before too long. I remain in favour of the caretaker government to hold elections and the polls still show that that is the wish of a healthy majority of the population. But the BNP needs to consider not whether an interim government would be fair or trustworthy, but whether a caretaker administration is necessary for them to win a general election. They have no ability to force the government to reconstitute the caretaker government system and returning to the politics of the street would only once again send their popularity and credibility plummeting. Realpolitik would suggest that they go for the best deal they can get, which would be to push for fresh elections under an interim government arrangement of their choosing, and to push their case through non-violent means. They might be surprised just how effective and difficult to resist such a tactic would be. l Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.
ince the 1990s, an ideological growth has been witnessed that public and private sectors should work together. International bodies constantly advocate for public-private partnerships (PPPs) as the policy innovation of recent times and actively lobbying to have partnerships be accepted as the way forward. Although the dynamics of publicprivate partnership arrangements are generic across social and health sectors, international literature has been persistently emphasising on country-specific studies on partnership to gain more insights, to know more about its effectiveness, and to mitigate the challenges of partnership to ensure safe and efficient health service delivery. Recently, I have browsed through a number of literatures where people have made claims about the relative sizes of the public and private sectors in healthcare delivery. A report on the private sector in Africa by World Bank claims that the private health sector now provides half of all health services in the region. A few documents reviewed recently claimed that much of medical care is provided by the private sector an endorsement popularly highlighted in mass media. The government of Bangladesh has been pushing for public-private partnerships in health service delivery since the 1980s. The healthcare system of Bangladesh is a mix of public and private initiatives. In terms of physical infrastructure, the public sector is stronger than the private sector, although in terms of coverage, the healthcare system of the country should be termed a privatised one. Although public health services attempt to make healthcare accessible and affordable for the poor and marginalised, it has largely failed to do so. On the other hand, high outof-pocket expenditure and the unpredictable quality of care by the private sector has limited access to health services for the poor. NGOs have emerged as an effective option to make health services accessible to the poor, sometimes in a vertical program, sometimes in collaboration with the government. To improve efficiency in the use of public funds and broaden coverage of health services through utilising the potentials of all the providers available, the government has opted for public-private partnership. In the health sector, public-private partnership has taken a variety of forms, producing diverse results. In the present experiences of two programs, one has been successful and the other is challenging. As a successful program, the Expanded Program of Immunisation (EPI) has been selected while National Nutrition Program (NNP) has been picked up as a challenging model. Based on the performance of the
programs in terms of coverage and access to services, the immunisation program has been termed as successful, and the nutrition program as challenging. This finding is from a study sponsored by the James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University. Data for the study was collected through documentary surveys and interviewing key government and NGO officials of the respective programs.
Bangladesh has been pushing for publicprivate partnerships in health service delivery since the 1980s
It is a continuing challenge for the health sector to find optimal means for harnessing the strengths of all the sectors in ways which will best address priority needs. Learning lessons from the existing partnerships is the simple and most straightforward means of identifying the best opportunities, and steer clear of the weaknesses. The present study offers two sets of findings: Factors that contribute to the success of partnership, and factors that contribute to make partnerships difficult and challenging. Public-private partnerships are increasingly advocated to alleviate deficiencies in the public health system, as well as to reduce economic stress on those who seek services from an expensive, burgeoning, and unregulated private health sector. Focusing on Bangladesh, it is imperative to observe and assess how the private sector is tapped to deliver health care services to poor and underserved sections of society through collaborative arrangements with the government. Having emerged as a key reform initiative, aspects of public-private partnership can be examined to understand the genesis of private sector partnerships, the ways in which the private sector is encouraged to deliver public health services, and the models and formats that make such partnerships possible. It is important to analyse challenges, opportunities, and benefits of implementing public-private partnerships, and to explore whether partnerships with the private sector can be designed to deliver healthcare services to the poor. l Kuhel Faizul Islam is Senior Researcher and Internship Program Coordinator, James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC Institute of Global Health, BRAC University.
This party has some degree of conviction towards democracy, although its performance reveals that it is likely to be nothing more than a fringe party
As the stalemate continues, the issue of Jamaat is getting even murkier with the allegation of links with al-Qaeda, although the authenticity of such claims is yet to be verified. The matter needs to be viewed from a broader discourse in order to harbour any hope of a resolution. A microscopic view of
now? Why cannot the people of this country determine the political future of Jamaat through a free and fair election at this particular juncture? The ruling party has projected the issue of Jamaats presence in Bangladesh politics as a threat to national security, and if this is the
RAJIB DHAR
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
QUAMRUL ABEDIN
TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
Jibon Dhuli By Tanvir Mokammel Time: 3pm 11pm, Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Public Library
Exhibition
Duet Art Exhibition By Hashem Khan and Mohammad Iqbal Time: 12pm 8pm, Gallery Twenty One, Taj Lily, 751 Satmasjid Road (level 11)
Theatre
Court Martial By Theatre Art Unit Time: 6:30pm 8:30pm, Experimental Theatre Hall, BSA
dynamic and broaden its service towards every citizen. The two-day programme of the celebration featured renditions of patriotic songs, group dances, recitals, musical concerts and acrobatic performances. The dance troupes Dhriti Nrittalok and Rewaz Performing Arts staged several eye catching dances choreographed by Warda Rihab and Munmun Ahmed (respectively). The famed Dalia Ahmed recited the poem Basonti by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Chandana Majumder and Kiran Chandra Roy performed several famous local folk songs. Fusion band Joler Gaan started their performance with popular love song Bokul Phul. The audience had been waiting for their appearance, and when the band began, the crowd erupted with joy. They performed Paater Gaan, Ei Pagoler Bhalobasha and Emon Jodi hoto with instrumentals, which took the audience to a new level of musical experience. The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Acrobatic Troupe also mesmerised audiences with their astonishing performance.
Over the years the academy has been consideredthe main hub for the practice of theatre, especially after the establishment of National Theatre Hall. However, all kinds of cultural activities such as dance, music, recitation and others take place throughout the year. The academy also promotes many folk and traditional indigenous performing arts through different programmes. An ethno-cultural archive was launched recently with the aim to preserve the traditions of different ethnic peoples in the country. BSA regularly screens world classic and local quality films. Its National Art Gallery is mostly used for large scale exhibitions. The adjacent plaza can be used for discussions, seminars and cultural functions. An auditorium with modern features has recently been opened at the Art Plaza. The academy was established under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Act 1974, to practice and uphold local culture and to facilitate the arts. Now the Academy is functioning under the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Ordinance 1989. l
Ochin Pakhi
Bangla
Amar Ekush
Drama Amar Ekhush will air at 7:40pm today on Maasranga TV. The drama is directed by Tuhin Hossain and features Bijori Barkatullah, Intekhab Dinar, Syed Hasan Imam, Saira, Sahana and many others. The story of the drama revolves around a family who loses touch with its heritage and a member of that family, Barkat, tries to remind them of their roots. l
Manusher Chhaya
Manusher Chhaya will air tonight at 10pm on Channel 9. Directed by Mahmud Didar, the drama features Tania Hossain, Afran Nisho and Raisul Islam Asad among others. l
Film Bangla is adapted from Ahmed Sofas literary works Omkar and directed by Shahidul Islam Khokon. Marking International Mother Language Day, the film will be aired on ATN Bangla today at 3.10pm. The cast of the film includes popular actor Shabnur, Mahfuz, Humayun Faridi and many others. The story is about a beautiful young woman with a stormy personality. Her depth of character perhaps comes from the fact that she is mute but can hear everything. When Mahfuz comes across her, he is instantly attracted to the mesmeric characteristics of the volatile personality and decides that he wants to marry her. Facing opposition from his family, Mahfuz moves to the city with his mute wife who realises the struggle her husband is going through, to maintain their relationship. When the Language Movement starts, she tries to speak and after several failed attempts, she utters one word, Bangla. l
Special drama Ochin Pakhi will air on NTV at 2:30pm. Written by Hasan Azizul Haque, scripted by Shibu Kumar Shill and directed by Parvez Amin, the drama features popular soap actors Rokeya Prachi, Ashish Khondoker, Hrid and many others. The drama is about a boy named Hrid, who goes missing during the Language Movement. Hrid asks for a pet bird from his father. Giving into his sons demand, his father buys him a bird. His pets staple food was paddy and Hrid decides to fetch the paddy from a nearby field by himself and never returns. l
Bangla Apa
Banglavisions own production Bangla Apa will be aired at 9:05pm today. The drama features Sumaiya Shimu, Dipto, Rahmat Ali, Khan Alam and many others. Technology has made it possible for people to be high achievers and Manabi is an example of the kind. She gains a scholarship via internet and goes abroad to teach Bangla. There, she makes her country proud through her unyielding performance and becomes known as Bangla Apa. When she returns to the country, a journalist comes to interview her. l
Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre arranges free shows ranging from concerts of renowned singers, film screening, classical music and many other programmes. Today at 6:30pm at their Gulshan-1 premises, the IGCC has arranged for a poetry recitation programme in association with Asian Paints, IRCON and Marico Bangladesh. The event titled Ami Tomaey Bhalobashi will feature Dahlia Ahmed, Jayanto Chattopadhayay and Rana Thakur on the occasion of International Mother Language Day. A leading recitation artiste and elocutionist of Bangladesh, Dahlia Ahmed was born in 1951 at Mymensingh to an esteemed Muktijoddha family. Jayanto Chattopadhyay is a wellknown recitation artist, elocutionist and actor of Bangladesh. Born in 1958 at Pabna, Rana Thakur is a recitation artist and translator. He has a keen interest in Rabindranath Tagores philosophy and works. He has recited poems on several occasions in Bangladesh and abroad. l
Sport
Bangladeshs Nasir Hossain drops Ashan Prianjan of Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI at the SBNS yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 2 3
DAYS TO GO
15 Proteas rue
P15 SCORECARD
was only a matter of time for Sri Lanka to wrap up the match. Earlier Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. Bangladesh got regular wickets in the first 45 minutes into the innings. They had taken down three Lankan wickets with 63 runs in first 12 overs but yet the bowlers seemed to lose track as the fielders produced another poor catching exhibition. Sangakkara paired up with Priyanjan (60) for the fourth wicket and they added 114 shift the momentum on their side. Skipper Angelo Mathews lifted the total with an unbeaten 56 off 39 balls, having added 83 for the fifth wicket with Sangakkara. Fast bowler Rubel Hossain was the most expensive among the home side bowlers giving away 76 runs in his 10 overs for three wickets. l
MUMIT M
Butter fingers
Eight dropped catches in the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka can easily be termed as the major reason behind Bangladesh los-
ing the three-match series. The home side fielded first in both the matches and the four misses in each game did not only shift the momentum, but the pressure also reflected in their batting approach later.
DROP CATCH
First ODI
Second ODI
Over 14.2 Priyanjan pulled Gazi at deep square leg and Nasir rushed across to his left and dived full length but could not hold on to it Over 45.5 Mathews tried to scoop Rubel and Mahmudullah dropped a dolly at short fine-leg Over 48.2 Vithanage heaved Arafat Sunny to midwicket and Mominul, instead of coming forward focused on the angle, dropped it Over 49.4 Mominul put down a sitter at cover as Vithanage got an outside edge looking to smack a fullish delivery from Rubel
Over 22.4 Sohag Gazi at long-on dropped Thisara Perera off Arafat Sunny. The ball bounced off his hands and over the top for a six Over 25.3 Mahmudullah was not alert as he failed to hold on to Senanayakes edge off Sohag Gazi Over 28.1 Thisara Perera lofts Gazi to long-on but Nasir loses balance as the ball popped out of his hands and sailed over the rope for a six Over 38.4 Al Amin the bowler and Perera survived again as Shakib juggled the ball couple of times before spilling it on the ground at long-off
Bangladesh are known as one of the best fielding sides and though their ground fielding has been satisfactory, it was the catching from some of the best fielders in the side that raise concerns. It must also be said that a dropped catch also demoralizes the bowler. In the second game at Sher-eBangla National Stadium yesterday, Mominul Haque dropped two while Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain squandered one each to help Sri Lanka build partnerships and register a big total of 289. Nasir and Mahmudullah were the common culprits as they dropped one each in the first game too. More importantly the chances that went down were not very hard. From 67 for 8, Sri Lanka, especially Thisara Perara, capitalised on the gifted lives and posted a respectable 180 which proved 13 runs safe in the end. With Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 around the corner Bangladesh must find a solution to their butter fingers or else they have to end up paying pretty heavy. l
The other 20 disciplines are swimming, archery, athletics, badminton, boxing, cricket (mens and womens), cycling, fencing, football (men), golf, gymnastics, hockey, kabaddi (mens and womens), karate, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, beach volleyball, weightlifting and wrestling.
preparation on January 10 and the preparation for other eight disciplines is expected to begin from the first week of March. Meanwhile, BOA training and devel-
opment committee proposed 136 athletes from 21 disciplines in the preliminary process for the 17th Asian Games. The largest sporting event in Asia is scheduled to take place in Incheon, South Korea from September 19 to October 4. The committee also proposed to include Kabaddi (men)discipline that was earlier ignored by BOA due to the men teams lack of activity in recent times but womens kabaddi were on the list from the beginning. The proposal regarding the 21 disciplines will be one of the few issues to be discussed in the next BOA executive committee meeting. Bangladesh kabaddi team has a fine record in the Asian Games after being inducted in 1990 and SA Games where they won gold in the last edition in India. l
14
Top Fifa official backs Eriksson
Fifa referees committee chairman Jim Boyce defended Jonas Eriksson on Wednesday after Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini criticised the official following the 2 0 home defeat by Barcelona in the Champions League. Pellegrini questioned Erikssons impartiality and accused the Swede of deciding the outcome of the last-16 first leg tie at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. The Chilean also said a referee from Sweden should not have been put in charge of such an important match and that he had no control of the game. Reuters
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Kroos missile destroys 10-man Gunners, Costa late show sinks Milan nal were not punished from the spot as n AFP, PARIS David Alabas penalty hit the post.
However, they finally cracked in the 53rd minute as Krooss superbly struck right-foot curler gave Lukasz Fabianski no chance. Arsenal staged a superb backs to the wall defensive performance, although they were perhaps fortunate not to concede another penalty when Laurent Koscielny appeared to take substitute Thomas Muellers legs from under him. However, two minutes from time - eerily also like the City loss to Barcelona - they conceded a second as Mueller was on hand to head the ball home.
RESULTS
AC Milan Arsenal
0 1 0 2
Diego Costa 83
Munich's Toni Kroos (front) celebrates the opening goal with teammates during their Champions League, round of 16, first leg match against Arsenal at the Emirates stadium in London on Wednesday AP
game swung in the German sides favour after Ozil squandered his opportunity to put the Gunners ahead and Sczcesny saw red. We needed that (penalty) tonight because you could see that Bayern were on the ropes at the start of the game, Wenger said. We had three good chances at the start of the game and I feel to insecure them more we needed to score that penalty tonight. Bayern beat Arsenal 3-1 at the same stage of the competition last season but scraped through on away goals after losing the home leg 2-0 and coach Pep Guardiola warned his side against complacency in the return fixture on March 11. After the clear penalty and red card the game changed completely, Guardiola, who won the Champions League as Barcelona coach in 2009 and 2011, said. l
In the other game Milan had started the brightest against Atletico but the early fireworks were not a forestaste of what was to come as the match petered out. Atletico finally broke the deadlock as Diego Costa headed home to give the Spaniards a superb chance of reaching the quarter-finals and end Italian interest in the competition. Atleticos Argentinian coach Diego Simeone said that his side had improved after a wobbly start. Milan were full on and aggressive, especially after the first 10 minutes, said the 43-year-old former Argentinian internatioonal midfielder. However, in the second-half we played better, and we gained control little by little. We realised that one error in such a tight match could be costly and we took advantage of one to win. His Milan counterpart, another former great midfielder Dutchman Clarence Seedorf was far from downcast about their chances of turning things round. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Sri Lanka
15
QUICK BYTES
BD v SL, SCORECARD
Perera c Shamsur b Rubel 8 Dilshan c Rahim b Rubel 8 Sangakkara c Mahmudullah b Sunny 128 D Chandimal c Shamsur b Gazi 9 A Priyanjan lbw b Shakib 60 A Mathews not out 56 T Perera c Mahmudullah b Rubel 0 K Vithanage not out 13 Extras: (lb3, w4) 7
Alhaj Afajuddin Ahmed, father of a senior sub-editor of The Financial Express AHM Mahmudul Haque, died of old-age complications at his residence at Sribodi in Sherpur district in the early hours yesterday. He was 91, family sources said. He was buried at his family graveyard following a namaze- janaza at his village mosque after Asr prayers. Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA) expressed condolence at the death of Alhaj Afajuddin Ahmed. They prayed for eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members. -BSS
Bowling
Mortaza 8 0 52 0, Rubel 10 0 76 3, Gazi 10 0 50 1, Shakib 10 1 46 1, Sunny 8 1 44 1, Mahmudullah 3 0 110, Mominul 1 0 7 0.
BRIEF SCORE
West Indies 116/8 in 20 overs Cusack 2 17, OBrien 2 17 Ireland 117/4 in 19.1 overs Joyce 40* Ireland won by six wickets
Bangladesh
Anamul Haque lbw b T Perera 42 Shamsur c Senanayake b Malinga 0 Mominul c Sangakkara b Senanayake 15 Mushfiqur c Senanayake b Malinga 79 Shakib c Senanayake b Priyanjan 24 Nasir Hossain c Vithanage b Mendis 22 Mahmudullah run out 1 Sohag Gazi c Sangakkara b T. Perera 7 Mashrafe c T Perera b Mendis 17 Arafat Sunny not out 1 Rubel c sub (A Perera) b Senanayake 6 Extras: (b3, lb3, w7, nb1) 14
School handball
Scholastica and Sunnydale moved into the girls section final of the Milkman Mini Handball winning their respective semi-finals at the Shahid (Captain) M.Monsur Ali Handball Stadium yesterday. In the first semi-final,Scholastica beat Viqarunnisa Noon School 9 2 while Sunnydale ousted Green Herald School 15 5. In the boys final, St. Gregorys School will face Dhaka Residential School. Both the finals will be held on Sunday. Biren Sikder, the state minister for youth and sports Biren Sikder will distribute the prizes as the chief guests. Tribune Desk
228
Bowling
Malinga 8 2 45 2, Mathews 8 1 440, Senanayake 8 0 33 2, T Perera 6 0 40 2, Mendis 8 0 43 2, Priyanjan 5 0 17 1 Sri Lanka won by 61 runs; lead 2 0 in three-match series
SCORECARD, DAY 1
South Africa, first innings
G Smith lbw b Harris 9 D Elgar c Harris b Lyon 83 H Amla lbw b Johnson 0 F du Plessis c Smith b Lyon 55 A de Villiers not out 51 Q de Kock c sub (Henriques) b Smith 7 J Duminy not out 2 Extras (b4, lb2, w1) 7
214
Bowling
Harris 18 5 36 1, Johnson 15 2 44 1, Siddle 22 7 61 0, Lyon 23 6 47 2, Warner 1 0 2 0, Smith 4 0 18 1
Villiers not out on 51 and JP Duminy on two at the close. De Villiers passed 7,000 test runs and became the first player in history to score half-centuries in 12 tests in a row. It might well have been a better day for the hosts after they won the toss and elected to bat, but Dean Elgar (83) and debutant Quinton de Kock (seven) gave their wickets away with rash shots. The pitch did not have the devil of Pretoria and rendered Mitchell Johnson less effective, the South Africans playing him with relative comfort once the shine had been taken off the new ball. This is probably the slowest I have ever seen the pitch in Port Elizabeth, Elgar told reporters. Here patience is one of the key things teams look for. I knew I had to bat long to put us in a good position, first- innings runs here at St Georges are golden. It has been a bitter-sweet week for Elgar, who found out he would play in this test match on the same day Cricket South Africa decided not to renew his central contract.
I got the bad news first, then they softened me up with the good news, he said.Proteas captain Graeme Smith (nine) said at the toss his side wanted to bat first and put Australia under pressure, but it was South Africa who felt the early heat. Smith was struck on the back leg by Ryan Harris with the total on 10 and the umpire had no hesitation in giving him out lbw. In the next over, Johnson breached the defence of Hashim Amla who was also trapped leg before for a duck. But Elgar and Faf du Plessis (55) batted patiently for a third-wicket partnership of 112 before the latter gave a catch to Steve Smith at short leg off the bowling of Nathan Lyon. Left-handed opener Elgar added a further 58 with the fluent De Villiers before he tried to smash Lyon to the boundary and skied the ball to Ryan Harris at mid-off. That brought De Kock to the crease one place higher than expected, with Duminy slipping down to seven, and the confident 21-year-old got off the mark in test cricket with a boundary. l
Italy will host minnows Luxembourg in a friendly little more than a week before commencing their World Cup campaign, the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced Tuesday. Luxembourg will be Italys opponents for a friendly on June 4, the teams last test before the World Cup, said a statement by the FIGC. The match will be used by coach Cesare Prandelli to gauge the condition of his players a few days before the start of the World Cup. Italy will face far tougher opponents in World Cup and European champions Spain in Madrid on March 5. Prandellis side open their 2014 World Cup in Brazil away to England in Manaus on June 14. AFP
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 7:00AM Oklahoma City v Miami 9:30AM Golden State v Houston Star Sports 4 Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games Day 14 2:00AM La Liga Real Valladolid v Levante Ten Cricket 02:30PM South Africa v Australia 2nd Test, Day 2 Ten Action 1:30AM French Ligue 1 As Monaco v Stade De Reims
Fazle Hossain Badsha inaugurates the 34th National Table Tennis Championship at Rajshahi yesterday COURTESY
Standard Chartered Bank, Bangladesh recently organized an exclusive Cricket Clinic for children, aged between 7 and 13 years, at the Gulshan Youth Club Ground. Approximately 120 children joined the Cricket Clinic including children of Standard Chartered clients and staff. World renowned all-rounder and Shakib Al Hasan conducted the cricket clinic COURTESY
16
Sale to break previous records n Ahmed Zayeef
new books published
A M A R E K U S H E Y B O O K FA I R 2 0 1 4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
107
Sale of books has reached an unprecedented height this year at the Amar Ekushey book fair. The publishers are expecting a sale of above Tk1crore at the end of the fair. GM Mizanur Rahman, deputy director of Bangla Academy told the Dhaka Tribune: Last year we sold books worth around Tk71lakh but this year we have already sold books worth Tk68lakh. We are expecting that the sale would cross Tk1crore at the end of the fair. Bangla Academy has set up three stalls at each of the venues including one stall for children. The academy is also running a sale at the newly built Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Bhaban. A total of 65 new books were brought in by the Bangla Academy. The books include three editions of Bangla Academy Bibortonmulok Bangla Obhidhaan, Tumi Ki Kebol e Chobi, an album on Rabindranath Tagore, and two editions of Bangla Academy Promito Bangla Bhashar Byakoron. A total of 107 new books were published yesterday including Sohrab Hasans 1971: Bangladesher Shotru Mitro from Nobojug Prokashoni, and Badiul Alam Majumdars Shongbidhan, Shushthu Nirbachon O Gonotantrik Shashon from Agami Prokashoni. Today the fair will open at 7:30am on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day. A poem recital would take place on the central stage. l
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093 94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com
Business
B3 Dialogue: Agriculture
development policy must be timeworthy
Dhaka urges Washington to allow duty and quota free access under WTO
n Tribune Report
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday urged the US authorities to allow duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to their market in accordance with the decision at the 9th Ministerial Conference held in Bali, Indonesia late last year. I hope, the USA would allow duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to their market, he told a luncheon meeting with the foreign investors in Dhaka, as expected to get back the suspended GSP by the US authorities. The minister brought forward the decision of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) for the least developed countries (LDCs) when Bangladesh is struggling to get back the generalised system of preferences (GSP) the US authorities suspended for Bangladeshi products to the US market. He pointed out that the WTO conference decided duty-free access should be given to the LDCs under the Bali package. At a separate meeting in the morning, Tofail said the country needs to get the duty-free and quota-free (DFQF) access to the developed markets as per the decision of the ministerial meeting. Sub-Saharan countries are getting such benefit, but Bangladesh is not getting such facilities, he said, apprising that he would raise the issue again at the WTO forum once goes to Geneva for attending any WTO meeting. Speaking at the luncheon meeting of Foreign Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) at a local hotel, the commerce minister reiterated that unless considered from political point of view, Bangladesh will soon get back the GSP facility in the US market. He said the government has already fulfilled most of the 16 conditions of the USTR (United States Trade Representative) for regaining the trade preferences, and the remaining conditions will be fulfilled by March next. Replying to a query, he said in future the government will be very tough
ute in 2008 and reduced to $.03 in 2009, but was there any improvement in illegal call termination or not? BTRC submitted no response in this regard as noted in the finance ministry summery. One the other hand, though BTRC is claiming present call of 3.5 crore minutes, but industry insiders said at least 5 core minutes of international calls are being generated now. In this count, the government would incur annual loss of around Tk1,500 crore. They said incoming calls generally increases up to 9 crore minutes a day during the Eid and other festivals. The summery also noted that the telecom regulators of the neighboring countries share anything about the call termination rate. Here VoIP Service Provider Association (VSPA) claimed that the neighboring countries call termination rate is three to eight times higher than Bangladesh. VSPA convener Rabiul Karim claimed, the international call termination rate in Sri Lanka is $.09 while it is $.095 in Nepal. In Pakistan, it is $.088 and Maldives is the highest with $.25 per minute. International call is considered as export earning in every country, but our decision makers are against that, he told the Dhaka Tribune. The BTRC proposal recognised that lowering the call termination charge and the governments share will result in a revenue shortfall of Tk1,073 crore from Tk1,851 core earned from the IGWs and ICXs last year to Tk777 crore. Though finance ministry doesnt have raised any legal question about changing the revenue sharing structure, but Barrister Aneek R Haque, a Supreme Court lawyer, told the Dhaka Tribune: The revenue sharing structure has fixed through a public auction and BTRC cannot violate a public auction decision. Aneek, who had held the auction of IGWs in 2008, said by changing these decisions the BTRC had destabilised the whole sector. l
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed delivers speech at a seminar in Dhaka yesterday in dealing with the troublemakers who resort to violence in the name of political programmes, as it costs everyone businessmen as well as poor people. Newly elected FICCI President Rupali Chowdhury, its executive director MA Matin and member Jim McCabe were, among others, present. Meanwhile, Commerce Minister also attended a seminar on Challenges of Economic Transformation and Growth: Agriculture and Manufacturing organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) in the morning. He said the report on the completion of the 16-point GSP action plan will be sent to the US authorities before April 15. If politics is not engaged, well get our GSP. He said the GSP facility which Bangladesh used to enjoy in the US market is nothing compared to its total export to that country. Out of the total export of US$5.56bn to the US, the volume of the GSP-backed exports was only US$30m, he added. Tofail said despite the GSP cancellation, the country saw export growth so far in the current fiscal year and it will reach US$30.5bn at the end of the fiscal. About promoting the RMG sector, he said an area in Gozaria in Munshiganj district had already been identified to set up a planned garment city with an estimated cost of Tk800 crore. The government would provide Tk700 crore when the rest amount would be sourced from other investors. He said there was also an idea of implementing the project under public-private partnership initiative as the government would provide land and the private investors would do the development works. The commerce minister said there would also be special industrial eco-
nomic zones in some important areas of the country to facilitate more industries for export diversification. About promoting the countrys positive image abroad, he said the image was hurt after the Rana Plaza tragic accident, but such industrial accident was not uncommon. There was a big accident in the United States at a fertiliser factory, he said, adding that no accident happened in the past one year after the Rana Plaza building collapse as the government and industry people addressed workers safety with utmost priority. Chiared by CPD distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, the seminar was also addressed by senior BNP leader and former Planning Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan and president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Atiqul Islam. l
'After the Rana Plaza incident, I lost my interest to establish a new factory. I was frightened'
Besides, the vague idea of the safety requirements set by the international retailers groups Accord and Alliance held back the investors from fresh investment. Investors are not planning fresh investments as they are still not clear about the safety requirements set by the Accord and Alliance, said BGMEA former president Anwar Ul Alam Chowdhury. Further, investors lost confidence as the sector was facing order crisis from the international buyers, he added. Anwar said Implementation of new wage structure was another reason to abandon expansion plans as it increased the production cost. The new wage structure for the garment workers came to effect in December last year. l
Children making their choice of plastic toys at a stall in the plastic goods fair begins in Dhaka yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM preferences (GSP) by the USA. The government is ready to support the industry to take it a new height as it has bright prospect as exportable item. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed invited the foreign investors, particularly from China, to relocate their industry in Bangladesh taking the opportunity of cheap labour. The industry has more than 5,000 entrepreneurs, which is a good sign of better prospect of the industry ahead, he said. The industry has a great potential as it acts as both backward and forward linkage industry for the RMG sector, the mainstay
B2
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.76 9.62 9.30 9.18 8.75 8.72 7.46 7.32 7.31 7.18
Desh Garments -B Miracle Industries -B Beach Hatchery -A Meghna Con. Milk -B Anwar Galvanizing-B Deshbandhu Polymer-A BSC A Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Bangladesh Welding -A Legacy Footwear -A CSE GAINERS Company Kay & Que (BD) -Z Hakkani P& Paper -B Beach Hatchery -A Miracle Industries -B Deshbandhu Polymer-A BSC A Samorita Hospital -A Bangladesh Welding -A CVO PetroChem RL Z National Polymer -A
Average (% change) 8.71 7.03 6.92 7.91 7.42 7.19 9.58 5.64 7.57 6.14 Average (% change) 10.19 9.45 7.58 8.19 7.25 9.55 7.33 7.83 7.11 6.07
Closing average 80.34 22.39 27.80 10.64 28.23 20.86 543.49 8.80 23.60 38.36
Closing 81.00 22.80 28.20 10.70 28.60 21.20 543.50 8.80 23.50 38.80
Daily high 81.10 22.80 28.30 10.70 28.80 21.40 543.50 8.80 24.00 39.10
Daily low 74.30 19.00 24.00 10.10 27.10 17.60 530.00 8.80 20.00 33.00
Turnover in million 9.360 5.987 26.068 0.250 2.611 7.971 63.923 0.002 15.955 5.263
Latest EPS 1.18 0.22 0.79 -4.58 0.02 0.46 24.00 -25.08 0.57 0.36
Latest PE 68.1 101.8 35.2 -ve 1411.5 45.3 22.6 -ve 41.4 106.6
Closing (% change) 9.94 9.76 9.62 9.57 7.69 7.46 7.27 6.82 6.74 6.07
Closing average 19.90 31.49 27.96 22.71 20.71 544.25 93.00 23.70 911.47 64.70
Closing 19.90 31.50 28.50 22.90 21.00 544.30 93.00 23.50 910.80 64.70
Daily high 19.90 31.50 28.60 22.90 21.30 544.30 93.00 24.10 915.00 64.70
Daily low 19.90 31.40 25.90 21.80 19.90 544.30 93.00 22.70 908.90 64.70
Turnover in million 0.010 0.441 11.853 1.366 2.899 18.143 0.047 2.571 0.547 0.032
Latest EPS -0.89 0.28 0.79 0.22 0.46 24.00 2.74 0.57 -4.06 1.70
Latest PE -ve 112.5 35.4 103.2 45.0 22.7 33.9 41.6 -ve 38.1
(+) 0.25% (+) 0.14% (+) 0.06% (+) 0.18% (-) 0.32% (+) 0.10%
Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
GeminiSeaFood-Z
-2.20
Average (% change) -6.09 -1.85 -2.80 -1.13 -1.33 -2.62 -1.16 -1.06 -1.06
Closing average 10.64 31.30 6.25 28.90 7.41 37.90 41.80 8.37 21.47
Closing 10.40 30.80 6.20 28.50 7.20 37.90 41.60 8.30 21.30
Daily high 11.10 32.00 6.50 30.50 7.80 37.90 42.80 8.50 21.90
Daily low 10.20 29.00 6.20 26.50 7.10 37.90 40.00 8.20 21.20
Turnover in million 14.764 65.146 0.428 48.800 2.135 0.038 22.758 10.664 4.562
Latest EPS 1.03 2.25 0.62 2.44 0.88 1.06 1.26 1.48 1.00
Latest PE 10.3 13.9 10.1 11.8 8.4 35.8 33.2 5.7 21.5
-0.90
178.38
177.70
182.10
176.50
0.330
6.44
27.7
CSE LOSERS Company Samata LeatheR -Z NCCBL Mutual Fund-1 A The Ibn SinaA Apex Foods -A Fareast Islami Life -A Imam Button -Z G Next Fashions-A Delta SpinnersA Eastland Insur -A Closing (% change) -9.20 -8.55 -4.19 -3.84 -3.39 -3.37 -3.13 -2.81 -2.78
City G Insu.-A
-2.71
Average (% change) -9.26 -7.64 -2.02 -5.47 -2.02 -3.70 -1.88 -1.65 -2.78
Closing average 23.70 10.76 108.57 102.97 115.56 8.60 31.27 41.77 52.50
Closing 23.70 10.70 107.40 102.70 114.00 8.60 30.90 41.50 52.50
Daily high 23.70 10.80 110.00 103.00 116.90 8.60 32.00 42.70 52.50
Daily low 23.70 10.60 107.20 102.60 114.00 8.60 30.50 41.30 52.50
Turnover in million 0.024 0.323 0.456 0.170 1.046 0.004 10.245 2.724 0.011
Latest EPS -0.04 1.03 3.12 3.56 4.60 -2.58 2.25 1.26 3.60
Latest PE -ve 10.4 34.8 28.9 25.1 -ve 13.9 33.2 14.6
-2.68
28.71
28.70
29.00
28.60
0.089
1.99
14.4
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Olympic Ind. -A Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A Meghna Petroleum -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Delta Life Insu. -A
AFC AgroBiotech-N
ANALYST
Investors breathed a sigh of relief, as market closed down with the week in positive territory although many expected the market to remain downbeat for a couple of few more days
DSE Million Taka 452.47 235.40 151.47 407.81 400.95 505.29 0.94 402.64 516.64 1.51 15.98 62.28 24.86 167.16 93.02 65.24 192.83 154.65 42.14 104.31 0.44
% change 11.32 5.89 3.79 10.20 10.03 12.64 0.02 10.07 12.92 0.04 0.40 1.56 0.62 4.18 2.33 1.63 4.82 3.87 1.05 2.61 0.01
Million Taka 44.53 32.47 4.99 43.03 31.97 28.37 40.92 50.88 0.52 2.64 5.56 2.81 23.07 10.34 3.40 18.68 33.32 8.60 26.45 0.01
CSE
% change 10.79 7.87 1.21 10.43 7.75 6.88 0.00 9.92 12.33 0.13 0.64 1.35 0.68 5.59 2.51 0.82 4.53 8.08 2.09 6.41 0.00
Million Taka 497.01 267.87 156.45 450.84 432.92 533.66 0.94 443.57 567.52 2.04 18.62 67.84 27.67 190.23 103.36 68.64 211.51 187.97 50.75 130.76 0.45
Total
% change 11.27 6.07 3.55 10.22 9.82 12.10 0.02 10.06 12.87 0.05 0.42 1.54 0.63 4.31 2.34 1.56 4.80 4.26 1.15 2.96 0.01
Southeast Bank-A LafargeS Cement-Z aamra technologies-A G Next Fashions-A BSC A Argon Denims Limited-A Renata Ltd. -A Golden Son -A BD Building Systems -A Mercantile Bank -A
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A
Volume shares 1,012,000 658,391 702,361 450,230 1,406,957 356,700 1,218,500 245,120 334,247 1,255,424
3,205,550 1,653,500 1,589,155 2,081,070 117,615 805,780 58,054 908,566 711,025 2,533,998
Value in million 209.21 172.13 154.65 128.97 99.87 96.79 86.78 82.31 77.97 76.11
75.84 68.39 65.85 65.15 63.92 56.86 56.47 55.87 51.72 49.86
% of total turnover 5.23 4.31 3.87 3.23 2.50 2.42 2.17 2.06 1.95 1.90
1.90 1.71 1.65 1.63 1.60 1.42 1.41 1.40 1.29 1.25
Daily closing 207.40 258.90 217.70 282.70 72.20 270.40 72.40 334.30 231.90 61.70
23.60 41.40 41.20 30.80 543.50 70.90 958.80 61.20 72.10 19.40
Price change 2.32 -0.96 -0.96 -0.98 5.56 2.39 4.93 0.81 -1.15 4.93
-0.84 0.73 1.23 -3.14 7.46 5.04 -0.32 0.66 -0.41 -2.02
Daily opening 202.70 261.40 219.80 285.50 68.40 264.10 69.00 331.60 234.60 58.80
23.80 41.10 40.70 31.80 505.75 67.50 961.90 60.80 72.40 19.80
24.00 42.00 42.20 32.00 543.50 71.70 986.00 62.00 73.80 20.50
Daily high
Daily high 210.00 267.00 225.00 290.70 72.50 285.00 73.30 337.50 240.00 62.30
21.50 40.90 37.00 29.00 530.00 62.00 955.60 55.00 65.50 18.00
Daily low
Daily low 199.00 250.00 202.00 261.00 62.00 266.00 68.10 310.00 215.00 53.00
Daily average 206.73 261.44 220.18 286.46 70.98 271.34 71.22 335.78 233.28 60.63
23.66 41.36 41.44 31.30 543.49 70.56 972.73 61.49 72.73 19.68
Volume shares
Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net
AFC AgroBiotech-N LafargeS Cement-Z BSC A LankaBangla Fin. -A Square Pharma -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Beach Hatchery -A Olympic Ind. -A Bengal Windsor-A UCBL - A G Next Fashions-A National Life I -A aamra technologies-A Southeast Bank-A Delta Life Insu. -A Olympic Ind. -A
151,151 295,000 455,000 33,335 233,000 52,116 409,000 423,893 57,000 190,200 396,492 327,580 28,300 213,590 345,008 27,000 29,500
Value in million
33.32 21.06 18.73 18.14 16.58 13.61 13.06 11.85 11.79 11.53 11.40 10.24 9.36 8.84 8.12 7.32 5.89
% of total turnover
8.08 5.11 4.54 4.40 4.02 3.30 3.17 2.88 2.86 2.80 2.76 2.48 2.27 2.14 1.97 1.78 1.58
Daily closing
217.60 72.70 41.40 544.30 72.80 259.00 31.90 28.50 207.70 61.80 28.60 30.90 335.00 41.20 23.40 270.30 202.70
Price change
-1.09 5.36 0.98 7.46 5.97 -0.92 1.27 9.62 2.47 4.92 -2.05 -3.13 -0.65 1.48 -2.09 2.12 4.43
Daily opening
220.00 69.00 41.00 506.50 68.70 261.40 31.50 26.00 202.70 58.90 29.20 31.90 337.20 40.60 23.90 264.70 194.10
225.50 73.00 41.90 544.30 73.50 265.50 32.40 28.60 209.50 62.50 29.30 32.00 340.00 42.50 23.80 274.50 204.00
217.00 68.30 40.50 544.30 68.80 257.50 31.60 25.90 195.00 59.40 28.30 30.50 330.50 40.80 23.30 266.10 190.10
Daily average
220.47 71.40 41.16 544.25 71.16 261.09 31.94 27.96 206.86 60.64 28.74 31.27 330.57 41.40 23.52 271.07 199.56
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
Dialogue: Agriculture development Robi makes impressive profit in 2013 policy must be timeworthy n
n Tribune Report
The agriculture development policy should be more time-worthy to ensure the proper use of the existing potentiality of this sector, which can lead the countrys economic growth. Speakers at a dialogue yesterday stressed the need for undertaking the timely policy intervention in the countrys agriculture sector as the farmers are incurring financial losses very often due to lack of policy intervention. Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) organised the dialogue titled Bangladeshs Agriculture and Structural Transformation at a city hotel yesterday. Agriculture sector should not be limited within the boundary of ensuring food security, rather it should be considered as one of the prioritized sector that can play vital role in ensuring the countrys economic growth, said Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC). Citing an example of Denmark, he said, Based on its agricultural and livestock resources the country is now emerged as the global leader in agrieconomic growth. Regarding the increase of agricultural production, Prof MM Akash of Dhaka University said, A vast track of agricultural lands in the country has been turning into barren land as a good number of farmers are now interested to live in urban areas, leaving their traditional livelihood. The government should form a Land Bank by accumulating such kind of land to produce the crops, he added. Prof Akash also urged the government to provide more soft-loans for the small and medium scale farmers so they can arrange their initial production preparation on time, which will ultimately enhance the production. Shamsul Alam, a member of Bangladesh Planning Commission, said, The government has already increased the volume of loans with low interest for the agricultural sector which has become popular among the farmers. The government should be attentive to conduct more research on the sector especially to develop new varieties with the capacity of more yielding, he added. l
culture sector while Bangladesh could not use its full potentiality due to the absence of proper policy intervention. Regarding the lack of policy intervention, Prof Rafiqul Islam, vice-chancellor of Bangladesh Agriculture University said, The potato farmers has faced a huge amount of financial lose in the current year as they did not get any time-worthy policy decision from the government. As the government has failed to
keep the interest of the farmers, the farmers might decide to refrain themselves from cultivating potato from the next season. he added. He, however, said if the government had any plan to export potato or create enough storage capacity for the access potato, the situation could be different. Zillur Rahman also said that the countrys fisheries sector should also be prioritised as it contains huge potentiality to give pace to the countrys
Mobile phone operator Robi has gained a impressive profit in the just concluded year 2013. The countrys third-largest mobile phone operator earned a profit over Tk365 crore in 2013, said a Robi report released yesterday. According to the report, Robi had earned only Tk91 crore in the year 2012. The revenue of Robi in the last quarter, between the months of October and December, faced a setback due to the political unrest, the report said. The telecom operator managed to sustain a 16% growth despite some adverse challenge. The revenue of the company increased by Tk4,500 crore in 2013, which was nearly Tk3,900 crore in 2012. Addressing a press conference at a city hotel yesterday, Robi officials formally announced that they had already been able to expand its market share, by adding 43 lakh new customers in 2013. The press conference was addressed, among others, by Robi Chief Market Officer Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Human Resource Officer Matiul
Islam Nowshad and Executive Vice President Mahmudur Rahman. The active Robi subscribers now stand at 2.54 crore, which is around 23.3% of the total subscribers. The revenue in the fourth quarter (October-December) of 2013 amounted to Tk1,013 crore, which was Tk1,173 crore in the third quarter (July-September), officials told the press conference. Adverse external impact especially instability in the countrys political environment has triggered the negative growth during the Q4, said Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Robi while announcing the financial statement of 2013. He said, Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) dropped 38% from Tk470 crore in Q3 to Tk290 crore in Q4, primarily due to revenue fall, increased operational expenses, and 3G related costs. Profit after Tax (PAT) was completely wiped out in the last quarter from Tk140 crore in Q3 to a negative PAT of Tk one crore inQ4 due to drop in EBITDA and a higher depreciation resulting from investments towards network expansion, said Ahmed. l
Yen gains in Asia after poor data shake investor confidence n AFP, Tokyo
Currency traders moved into the yen in Asia yesterday as weak data from the US, Japan and China dented investor confidence in the state of the global economy. The dollar sank to 101.87 yen in Tokyo, from 102.31 yen on Wednesday in New York where it won support from minutes of the Federal Reserves January meeting, which showed some policymakers pushed to raise interest rates. The euro weakened to 140.18 yen from 140.51 yen in US trade, while it rose to $1.3780 from $1.3734. l
'We are talking here about the G20s confirmation, consent that the decision (on deadline extension) is acceptable for them, the official said. Its probable that the ministers will adopt this (in the document)'
The final communiqu will address the issue. We have a preliminary version, but it is still a very rough draft, especially when it comes to that very point, the official said. It is difficult to say now how it will be reflected in the final document of the ministers.
how the strategies should look, what they should involve, it is premature to talk about filling them with specific parameters and specific results that can be achieved, the official said. Australian officials have said they will use the countrys presidency to push for agreements on growth strategies, but the discussion is likely to be
The G20 financial leaders will most probably agree to the International Monetary Funds proposal from last month to extend the deadline for the next round of reforms to the Fund until January next year, a result of the United States failing to ratify a 2010 reform. Washington is expected to be criticised for holding up a reform of decision-making that gives developing economies more say, but in the end, there is a broader understanding among the G20 of the issue. We are talking here about the G20s confirmation, consent that the decision (on deadline extension) is acceptable for them, the official said. Its probable that the ministers will adopt this (in the document).
Kabir Reza, chairperson of Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort and president of British Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce has been accorded CIP (commercially important person) status by the Bangladeshi Government
Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited announced the launch of its next generation Islami Bank VISA Debit Card. Dasgupta Asim Kumar, executive director of Bangladesh Bank at a local hotel on Wednesday formally inaugurated the launch of the card as chief guest
Standard Bank Ltd held its 220th board meeting on Tuesday in the board room of the banks head office. Chairperson at the board of directors, Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting
Md.Sahidur Rahman joined as a Director General in Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) on Wednesday. Earlier he was Director General, Water Resources Planning Organisation
B4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
largest economies, global growth headwinds and persistent euro strength, Komileva said. The overall index masked news France is lagging far behind its European peers, pouring cold water on hopes for a recovery gathering momentum in the country after it expanded 0.3% in the fourth quarter. All in all, it remains to be seen if the first quarter of 2014 will confirm the beginning of the French recovery or of a longer period of stagnation, said Julien Manceaux at ING. Still, Markit said the latest data point to 0.5% economic growth in the bloc this quarter, stronger than the 0.3% predicted in a Reuters poll published last week. But while the recovery across the euro zone appears fairly broad-based, with growth across private industry near 2-1/2 year highs, firms cut prices again to drum up trade, which may further stoke fears of deflation in the bloc. A composite prices charged index showed firms have cut prices every month for nearly two years, suggesting inflation is not going up anytime soon. Inflation dropped unexpectedly to just 0.7% across the euro zone in January, official data showed last month, well below the European Central Banks 2% target ceiling. l
Flagging france
Markits Eurozone Composite PMI, which is based on surveys of thousands of companies and is seen as a good guide to growth, dipped to 52.7, just below Januarys 31-month high of 52.9. That missed expectations in a Reuters poll for a modest rise to 53.1 but marked the eighth month the index has been above the 50 level. The story behind the euro zone PMIs remains one of an increasingly fragile recovery under way amid growing divergence between the unions
Various coins are exhibited at the newly-opened currency museum run by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in Colombo. Sri Lanka is hoping that popular Buddhist and Hindu temples and Christian shrines will accept electronic cash to ease pressure on loose change in an attempt to free up billions of coins stuck in tills of places of religious worship AFP
Google prepares 34-city Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19bn in deal shocker push for ultra-fast n Fiber service
Reuters
AT&T Inc said last year it was ready to build its own one-gigabit-per-second fiber network in Austin, provided it got the same treatment from local authorities as Google. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said in September he expects the telecoms carrier to expand that offer to multiple markets in coming years. And Comcast Corp, which will become the largest cable provider in the country if it passes antitrust scrutiny for its proposed $45bn acquisition of Time Warner Cable, argued to regulators this month that Google Fiber could threaten its business over time. Google now provides Fiber service, at up to $120 a month, in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Last year, it announced plans to expand in Provo, Utah and Austin, Texas in 2014. The consumer response so far in Kansas City has been overwhelming, Kevin Lo, General Manager of Google Fiber, told reporters on a Wednesday conference call. He did not elaborate.
To make a difference to Googles overall business, which is expected to generate roughly $70bn in revenue this year, Fiber needs to expand dramatically. In a city of one million households for example, Google would reap a modest $288m a year in subscription revenue if 20% of families were to sign up for its $120 monthly service. If it were able to enlist half the homes in the city, that could mean $720m in annual revenue. Fiber may not prove feasible for every one of the 34 cities under consideration. The company will make a final decision on which of those get Fiber by the end of the year, Lo said. Building high-speed networks is a cumbersome process that typically requires tearing up streets and working with local governments to get access to utility poles and approvals. l
Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19bn in cash and stock in a landmark deal that places the worlds largest social network closer to the heart of mobile communications and may bring younger users into the fold. The transaction involves $4bn in cash, $12bn in stock and $3bn in restricted stock that vests over several years. The WhatsApp deal is worth more than Facebook raised in its own IPO and underscores the social networks determination to win the market for messaging. Founded by a Ukrainian immigrant who dropped out of college, Jan Koum, and a Stanford alumnus, Brian Acton, WhatsApp is a Silicon Valley startup fairy tale, rocketing to 450 million users in five years and adding another million daily. No one in the history of the world has ever done something like this, Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on a conference call on Wednesday. Zuckerberg, who famously closed a $1bn deal to buy photo-sharing service Instagram over a weekend in mid-2012, revealed on Wednesday that he proposed the tie-up over dinner with CEO Koum just 10 days earlier, on the night
Gap to raise hourly pay to $10 in 2015; Wal-Mart remains neutral n Reuters
Apparel retailer Gap Inc said it would raise the hourly pay for its US employees to $9 in June 2014 and $10 in June 2015, after the White House said the minimum wage for federal contract workers would be raised to $10.10 an hour in 2015. Gap, owner of Old Navy, Banana Republic and Gap apparel chains, said the increased pay will benefit about 65,000 store employees. I applaud Gap for announcing that they intend to raise wages for their employees beginning this year, US President Barack Obama said. Separately, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the largest private employer in the United States, said it remains neutral on the issue of the federal minimum wage order of at least $10.10 per hour as it already pays most full-time employees above that level. We are looking into the impact that this proposal will be on our business, Wal-Mart spokeswoman Brooke Buchanan told Reuters on Wednesday. We remain neutral. Our position has not changed. She said an earlier Bloomberg report that the worlds largest retailer was looking at supporting an increase in the federal minimum wage was inaccurate. Wal-Mart is not a minimum wage business. Ninety-nine percent of our hourly associates, people working in stores earn above the state and federal wage, Buchanan said. Obama said last week he would sign an executive order to raise the minimum wage for federal contract workers starting next year. The order applies to new contracts and replacements for expiring contracts. Wal-Mart is expected to report fourth-quarter results today. l
of February 9. WhatsApp was the leader among a wave of smartphone-based messaging apps that are now sweeping across North America, Asia and Europe. Although WhatsApp has adhered strictly to its core functionality of mimicking texting, other apps, such as Line in Japan or Tencent Holdings Ltds WeChat, offer games or even e-commerce on top of their popular messaging features. The deal provides Facebook entree to new users, including teens who eschew the mainstream social networks
but prefer WhatsApp and rivals, which have exploded in size as private messaging takes off. People are calling them Facebook Nevers, said Jeremy Liew, a partner at Lightspeed and an early investor in Snapchat. How the service will pay for itself is not yet clear. Zuckerberg and Koum on the conference call did not say how the company would make money beyond a $1 annual fee, which is not charged for the first year. The right strategy is to continue to focus on growth and product, Zuckerberg said. Zuckerberg and Koum said that WhatsApp will continue to operate independently, and promised to continue its policy of no advertising. Communication is the one thing that you have to use daily, and it has a strong network effect, said Jonathan Teo, an early investor in Snapchat, another red-hot messaging company that flirted year ago with a multibillion dollar acquisition offer from Facebook. Facebook is more about content and has not yet fully figured out communication. l
Oil down in Asia on weaker Ukrainian roots shine through at WhatsApp China manufacturing sector n
Reuters
n AFP
Oil prices fell in Asian trade yesteday after a closely-watched index showed that China's key manufacturing sector contracted further in February to hit its lowest level in seven months. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for March dropped 24 cents to $103.07 in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude eased 55 cents to $109.92 for its April delivery.
British banking giant HSBC's preliminary reading for its purchasing managers' index (PMI) for China, which tracks manufacturing activity in factories and workshops, fell to 48.3 this month. That marked a further tumble from the final reading of 49.5 in January, when the figure showed contraction for the first time in six months. l The index is a closely-watched gauge of the health of the world's second biggest economy. l
DILBERT
WhatsApp grew up in Silicon Valley, but its founders background in Eastern Europe gave it its DNA. The messaging company bought by Facebook for $19bn in a deal announced on Wednesday has become a global force, with 450 million customers who find it an easy way to send messages across borders and between different brands of mobile devices. Founder and Chief Executive Officer Jan Koum, 37, grew up mostly in the Ukraine, and moved to Mountain View, California, as a teenager, an immigrant path reminiscent of other Silicon Valley successes such as Max Levchin, the Ukrainian-born co-founder of Paypal, and Googles Russian-born co-founder, Sergey Brin. Like technology titans Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg, Koum dropped out of college, but in his case, it was San Jose State rather than Harvard. Koums eastern European back-
ground was key to WhatsApps creation, according to Jim Goetz, the partner at Sequoia Capital who backed the company. Unlike companies such as Google and Facebook, which try to learn as much as possible about each user, WhatsApp does not collect personal information such as name, gender, or age, Goetz wrote in a blog post, and messages are deleted from servers once delivered. Its a decidedly contrarian approach shaped by Jans experience growing up in a communist country with a secret police, Goetz wrote. Jans childhood made him appreciate communication that was not bugged or taped. Similarly, Brins early childhood in Russia contributed to its Dont Be Evil motto. Koums view was evident in a tweet he wrote last year about Iran and Turkmenistan blocking WhatsApp. When government gets in the way, consumers and freedom to communicate suffers, he wrote. He also sees
advertising as an imposition. When advertising is involved, you the user are the product, Koum wrote in a 2012 blog post, disparaging the effort other companies make to collect personal data. That same year, he quoted singer Kanye West in a tweet, writing, You think you free but you a slave to the funds, baby.
'Its a decidedly contrarian approach shaped by Jans experience growing up in a communist country with a secret police'
WhatsApp charges 99 cents a year, and that bargain-basement approach extends to the WhatsApps original office, according to Yoav Leitersdorf of YL Ventures, who visited in 2010 in an attempt to invest in the young company.
Hes still impressed by both the founders and what he saw. It was like a car dealership with no cars inside and hardly any furniture at all for that matter, Leitersdorf recalled. I remember parking my car and walking around the building for about five minutes or more, looking for the office door. The office contained a handful of desks atop a stained wall-towall carpet, he said. At the time, Koum mentioned that many of the engineers worked remotely; today he provides recommendations for some on his LinkedIn page. Last month, as the crisis in his home country of Ukraine escalated, Koum posted photos of revolutionaries and tweeted praying for peace and quick resolution to the crisis #ukraine #freedom. He also has given a shout-out or two to his adopted country. WhatsApp Messenger, he tweeted last year. Made in USA. Land of the free and the home of the brave. l