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for becoming a member of parliament. Ershad told Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, who administered his oath that he had come because the people of his constituency had elected him their representative. Sources said his plan was to ask the party MPs to reconsider their decision to make his defiant wife Rawshan Ershad the opposition leader and consider him for the post instead. Rawshad led a section of the influential leaders of JaPa to contest the poll when Ershad was taking treatment for
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Children take part in a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting recent attacks on Hindus across the country, including killing and abuse of children RAJIB DHAR
INSIDE
Business
B1 The development partners have cut their aid commitment due to the long spell of political standoff in the country.
News
4 The commissioning of a new gas compressor station in Ashuganj has been delayed as the officials of its contractor firm are scared of to Bangladesh because of political unrest.
Petrified police are passing sleepless night while Hindus living in horror
As the discourse went on another constable Rauf came over and said: Please do something for us or else it will be a difficult for us to be on patrol duty where we are numbered but they come in thousands. An officer of the police station in return for anonymity said they were not only passing sleepless night in fear of attack but also dared not arrest the activists of Jamaat-Shibir. Even the mem-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administers oath to Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad at the parliament yesterday
BPS
After remaining confined to her Gulshan residence for 16 days, the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia got out of her house yesterday. She went to her political office in Gulshan which she had last visited on December 25. She arrived at her office around 7:40pm to hold a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Li Jun. The former premier rode her white Nissan Petrol that did not carry the national flag. However, her car was escorted by police. For the first time in 23 years, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not hold any parliamentary post either as leader of the House or leader of the opposition as she has enjoyed since the restoration of parliamentary democracy in 1991. Some hundred party leaders and activists including her advisers Osman Farruk and Sabihuddin Ahmed received Khaleda after she arrived at her office yesterday. In a press statement Khaleda alleged that she had been kept under house arrest and was not allowed to meet her party leaders and activists. Additional law enforcers including RAB and police were deployed around her Gulshan residence from December 25, a day after she announced March for Democracy programme in the capital. Earlier, police barred Khaleda from coming out of her residence to join the March for Democracy programme on December 29 which was later extended by a day. On January 8, the barricade and the law enforcers were withdrawn from in front of her house. While in confinement, some diplomats went to met Khaleda at her residence and also some foreign journalists went to interview her. l
Contacted, AKM Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Shibganj Police Station, said the situation was now under control. Asked about the arrest he said the investigating was on and police detained several people but refused to give their names for the sake of probe. Meanwhile, minority Hindu people of the area are also passing their days in constant fear. This correspondent conversed with Ananda Karmakar for a short while in Karmakar area of Ranihati. In course of the conversation Ananda said the area full of natural resources has now turned into a valley of death. Surprisingly not a single soul came into sight in the Shibganj Bazar soon
inclusive, free, fair and credible elections. After the departure of Chinese ambassador, Khaleda Zia held a meeting with the party senior leaders at her office. They requested Khaleda to withdraw the blockade as people had started defying the programmes. Another senior leader said as the international community has taken the waitand-see policy the party has given a few days pause in the movement to send a positive message about their intention of resolving the crisis through talks. We want to observe the situation and the governments attitude towards the opposition. After that we will go for the next course of action and make sure peoples participation in it. But there is less possibility of calling any hartal or blockade this month, he said seeking anonymity. The opposition combine has enforced the indefinite blockade from January 1 demanding cancelation of the 10th parliamentary elections and after January 5 they demanded cancellation of the election terming it farcical and stage-managed. After the January 5 national polls, countries including USA, UK, European Union, France, United Nations, Australia, Russia, Germany, Japan and South Korea expressed their disappointment over the elections and also expressed concerns over the ongoing violence.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on January 10 in a rally warned the opposition parties of doing any excess and of stern action to stop any sort of violence. Earlier, on January 6, Hasina asked her arch rival Khaleda to leave Jamaat. In an interview with the New York Times Khaleda on January 6, just a day after the parliamentary poll, said Jamaat was not BNPs permanent ally rather a strategic partner and she could cut tie with it when time comes. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami that has earned infamy in the recent violent and mindless street skirmishes for firebombing vehicles and trains and petrol-bombing innocent people, sought suggestions of grassroots over how to involve mass people in its movement. Jamaat was largely blamed for attacks on Hindu minority people in many places across the country. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher, working committee member of Jamaat, said: We are mulling over a new strategy of campaign involving a wide participation of people. The decision will be relayed soon. However, a senior Jamaat leader seeking anonymity said the central committee sought suggestions from the district Mojlish-e-Sura committees about their thoughts on how to wage the next course of action. The district committees will send their suggestions within a few days, he said. l
have received calls from the Cabinet Division. I will be in Dhaka. I am yet to get any phone call; hopefully I will get a call, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, an organising secretary of the AL, told the Dhaka Tribune around 9pm. Jatiya Party (JaPa) MP Moshiur Rahman Ranga last night told the Dhaka Tribune that he had received a call from the Cabinet Division for being accommodated in the cabinet as a state minister. Another AL lawmaker Abdur Rahman (Faridpur) told the Dhaka Tribune that he was expecting a call from the Cabinet Division soon. I am not leaving Dhaka. I hope I will get a call, he said. The aspirant candidates have been lobbying with the prime minister, her son, relatives and other close friends for a possible induction in the cabinet. Many of them are loitering in and around the premiers official residence Ganabhaban. A huge number of MPs have turned to the president, who loves to meet the lawmakers, for persuasion. Atiur Rahman Atik (Sherpur 1), firsttime MP and former upazila chairman Md Sohrab Uddin (Kishorganj 2), JaPa lawmaker Mujibul Haque (Kishoreganj
3), Afzal Hossain (Kishoreganj 5) and Faridul Haque Khan (Jamalpur 2) are some of the MPs who met the president for a recommendation to the prime minister. The MPs are also lobbying with AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam, Advisory Council member Tofail Ahmed, Presidium member Amir Hossain Amu, prime ministers sister Sheikh Rehana, Hasinas daughter Saima Hossain Putul and son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and the prime ministers advisers HT Imam, Gowher Rizvi and Moshiur Rahman. In addition to the members of the previous cabinet and the interim cabinet, many new faces join the competition to lobby for a berth in the cabinet. Mohammad Nasim, Abdul Matin Khasru, Mahabub Ul Alam Hanif, AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon, Nurul Islam BSc, Abul Hasnat Abdullah, Noor-E Alam Chowdhury, Shafiqur Rahman Chowdhury, AHM Mustafa Kamal, Saber Hossain Chowdhury, RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, Mirza Azam, SM Mostofa Rashidi Suja, Talukder Abdul Khaleque, Habibay Millat, Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Nasrul Hamid Bipu are also among the hopefuls. l
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part of the government and the party no more enjoys the right to criticise the government, according to Practice and Procedure of Parliament written by MN Kaul and SL Shakder. E May in his book How Parliament Works also makes a clear distinction between the treasury and the opposition benches in parliament which enacts laws and ensures transparency and accountability of the executive. On Thursday, Rawshan led some of her party MPs to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to demand some positions in the cabinet of ministers for boosting up the JaPa. Hasina did not make it clear whether she would induct them in the cabinet or not. The ministers will not criticise the government, but our MPs will blast the treasury, JaPa lawmaker Mujibul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune. He said Pakistan, one of the countries having the worst records of parliamentary practice for frequent military intervention, had an instance of such practice. However, several Awami League leaders including Mohammad Nasim, Suranjit Sengupta and Amir Hossain Ami have openly opposed JaPas contradictory role. l
A deletion of about 100 people distributed relief materials among the victims. People of different sections including Jessore Science and Technology University Vice-Chancellor Abdus Sattar joined the marchers at Malopara and expressed solidarity. The Hindus were seen happy after getting people who expressed solidarity with them. Sifat Mehnaz, upazila nirbahi officer, Abhaynagar, told the Dhaka Tribune a total of 298 members of 51 families were affected in the attacks. They were given adequate relief materials, she added. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Reshma Sharmin, assistant superintendent of police, Jessore, said 42 people were held in connection with the attack so far. Mostafizur Rahman, deputy com-
missioner, Jessore, said a three-member probe body was formed to inquire into the incident. Meanwhile, in a statement, Bangladesh Communist Party strongly condemned the incidents of rape of two Hindu women in Monirampur in Jessore. The organisation urged the masses to form committee to prevent communal violence in every village of the country. They also demanded exemplarily punishment of the perpetrators and ban of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Human chain and processions were also held in Magura, Nilphamari, Sherpur, Laxmipur, Jamalpur, Kishoreganj, Chandpur, Madaripur, Pabna, Lalmonirhat, Narayanganj and Chittagang. Different organisations demanded special tribunal to punish perpetrators. l
Habibur Rahman
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illness at the Combined Military Hospital. Despite Ershads refusal to campaign, he got elected in the Rangpur 3 seat and his party mates secured 32 other seats. Minutes after Ershad left the parliament premises around 12:15pm amid tight security by intelligence agency personnel, a JaPa-team, led by Presidium Member Mujibul Haque, handed over Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury a letter confirming the partys decision to make Rawshan Ershad the next opposition leader. Ershad entered the speakers office around 11:50am under the watch of some intelligence officials, who have been practically guarding him since December 12. His car entered the Jatiya Sangsad through the driveway, which is off limits for everyone other than the prime min-
ister, the speaker, the opposition leader, the deputy speaker and the chief whip. Parliament authorities restricted the entry of journalists as Ershad sneaked into the speakers office on level five of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. A DGFI official guarded the room of the speakers private secretary. Only two journalists, including the Dhaka Tribune reporter, were present in the private secretarys chamber. Parliament Secretary Ashraful Mokbul and other officials entered the room amid tight vigilance of the intelligence personnel. Ershad conversed with the Speaker for a while over a cup of tea. He discussed about the chilly temperatures in Dhaka and his hometown Rangpur, Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury later told the Dhaka Tribune. [Finally] you come, a smiling speaker greeted Ershad. I have to come as the people of
Rangpur 3 [constituency] want me, the speaker quoted Ershad as saying. He then went to the parliament secretarys room for signing the register. Around 12:15pm, the JaPa chairman left the parliament building through the same route while the other journalists kept waiting at the main entrance of the building. We tried to meet him, but failed. Sir [Ershad] also wanted to meet us, Mujibul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune after handing over the letter to the speaker. Party insiders told the Dhaka Tribune that Ershad took the u-turn on the January 5 poll as the BNP had convinced him that the election would not take place and the army would take over, said a party presidium member, who was also a member of the interim cabinet. Some of the ambassadors also reportedly told him that the poll would
not take place, he said. Party sources also said Ershad now wanted to tighten his grip on the party as the Awami League had apparently succeeded in forming a parliament despite violence and BNPs poll boycott, said another pro-Rawshan presidium member. At present, most of the JaPa MPs are reportedly loyal to Ershads wife Rawshan. The sources also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rated Rawshan more than her husband, who once announced that Jatiya Party was nothing without him. At the meeting with Sheikh Hasina on Thursday, Rawshan demanded that the Awami League should induct some of her MPs in the cabinet so that Ershad could not distract them. Although Sheikh Hasina did not make any definitive commitment, she told Rawshan that she would consider the demand. l
Born in 1930 in Murshidabad of undivided Indian subcontinent (now West Bengal), he completed higher secondary from Kolkata Presidency College. Later he moved to Rajshahi with his family. After completing BA honours from Rajshahi College, he took admission in Dhaka University and completed honours (1949) and masters (1951) in history. He also obtained LLB from the DU. During that time, he had been the vice-president of Fazlul Huq Muslim Hall Students Council in 1951 and played a key role in the 1952 Language Movement. He was also arrested on February 21, 1952 along with many others from a procession that was brought out defying the section 144 imposed by the Pakistani ruler. Justice Habibur began his career as a temporary lecturer of DU history department on May 1, 1952. But he had to step down four days later for participating in the Language Movement. He also taught history at Sirajganj College, Jagannath University (formerly Jagannath College) and Rajshahi University. He also completed honours in modern history in 1958 and masters in 1962 at Oxford University. Justice Habibur changed his profession in 1964 when he took up law and joined the Dhaka High Court Bar. He held the offices of assistant advocate general in 1969, vice-president of the High Court Bar Association in 1972 and member of Bangladesh Bar Council the same year. He served as a judge of the High Court Division from 1976 to 1985, Appellate Division of the Supreme Court during 1985-1995, acting chief justice 1990-1991 and as chief justice of Bangladesh in 1995. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
n Manik Miazee
3
UK to continue to support Dhaka n UNB
Amid speculations about the UK aid programmes in Bangladesh, British High Commissioner Robert W Gibson yesterday said his country would continue to support the poorest and most marginalised people in Bangladesh. The UK aid is a partnership between the people of Britain and the people of Bangladesh, the diplomat said in a statement. We continue to support the poorest and most marginalised people in Bangladesh as part of our global efforts to support the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Earlier, The Telegraph in a report said the UK government was reviewing its funding of aid programmes in support of Bangladeshs parliament in light of the current political situation. Bangladesh, the fourth largest recipient of the UK government aid, was given 274.9m in 2013-14 fiscal year, with 265m planned for 2014-15. Although most of this money is given to international agencies and non-government organisations, 30% goes directly or indirectly to the Bangladesh government to support its health, education and climate change programmes. The UK Aid has budgeted to spend 56.3m over a five-year period on the two parliamentary support projects that are now under review, with over 12m remaining to be spent this and next year. Not all of the projects money is spent on parliamentary activities. On January 6, Senior Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi urged the new government and all political parties to act in line with the interests of the people of Bangladesh. Commenting on the January 5 elections, she also said: Bangladesh is an important partner for the UK and well continue to support its people in their aspirations for a more stable, prosperous, and democratic future. l
Police arrested 20 leaders and activists of Rajshahi district unit BNP including its general secretary Kamrul Moni. In Satkanina of Chittagong, they arrested six Jamaat-Shibir men on charges of their involvement in violence at the upazila in recent times. A Shibir activist Borhan Uddin, 31, was arrested from Fenis Daganbhuiyan upazilas Jaylaskar union and recovered four petrol bombs from his house. In Meherpur, police arrested four activists of the 18-party alliance. Meanwhile, in Chittagong city, Jamaat- Shibir activists blasted eight crude bombs and vandalised four vehicles in Ek Kilomitre area under Chandgaon police station in the morning. l
An injured housewife who was burnt while baking herself around a gas stove died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday morning. The deceased Shirin Akhter, 40, wife of Rezaul Karim from Hijaltali under Kaliakoir upazila of Gazipur. Her family members said at first fire caught at Shirins veil and then spread on whole body on Friday afternoon. She was admitted to the near Mirzapur Kumudini Hospital in Tangail in critical condition. Later, doctors transferred her to the Burn Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital where she died. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
The Tk8.54bn project is being funded jointly by the government and the Asian Development Bank. The project to install two gas compressors was revised three times since 2006
Earlier, the government signed agreements with Hyundai Engineering Company Ltd of South Korea to set up the two compressors. The Tk8.54bn project is being funded jointly by the government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The project to install two gas compressors was revised three times since 2006. The biddings for the works were cancelled twice. As the gas supply was hit by the weakness in pressure recently, the government gave special care to expedite the installation work of the Ashuganj compressor, said official sources. l
Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council organises a rally in front of Central Shaheed Minar yesterday, protesting the recent attacks on Hindus
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Resist those who are torching schools, burning people: Nahid n Tribune Report
Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday urged the mass people to resist the anti-liberation forces who are burning people by throwing petrol bombs, torching schools, damaging vehicles and wealth in the name of resisting elections. During a visit to Saidul Islam, who is a professor of Gabindaganj Girls College in Gaibandha and was injured during election violence on January 5, at Dhaka Medical College Hospitals burn unit yesterday, the minister made the comment. Identify the people, who are involved in such inhumane activities, and come forward to resist them, Nahid said. He added that the anti-liberation forces, like the Pakistani occupation forces, were attacking the Hindus, and expressed concerns that they were damaging the countrys education system. Nahid also visited other injured people who were under treatment in the burn unit. l
WEATHER
Guardians of O Level and A Level students form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday, urging BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia not to enforce hartal or blockade at night until January 29 NASHIRUL ISLAM
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:23am 6:42am 12:07am 3:54pm 5:30pm 6:50pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
5
60 people held in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
Police rescued 60 people from Bahaddarhat Bus Terminal in Chittagong while they were being illegally taken to Malaysia yesterday. Four members of the trafficking gang were arrested in this connection. The arrestees were Mir Kashem Ali, 25, Sohel Rana, 28, Mohammad Anwar, 25, and Mohammad Ridwan, 28, all of them from Coxs Bazar district. Chandgaon police said they caught the trafficking gang around 4am while they were attempting to leave the city for Teknaf through two reserved buses. Abdur Rouf, officer-in-charge of Chandgaon police station, said most the victims were hailed from Jessore, Sirajgonj, Jhenaidah, Narsinghdi and Pabna. Earlier, police in separate drives rescued 108 persons and nabbed nine traffickers from Chittagong on November 23, December 8 and December 27 in 2013 when they were assembled for trafficking to Malaysia by sea. According to police sources, four syndicates have been engaged in traffickingpeople abroad by sea. Sources also said human trafficking gangs active in the region usually used Teknaf sea route for trafficking, but in the winter gangs prefer the Chittagong route as the sea remained calm during the season. l
Huge amount of tomato worth crores of taka decompose in the field as farmers and traders are not being able to send these tomatoes to other parts of the country because of continuous hartals and blockade programmes by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. The photo was taken from Rajshahis Godagari upazila yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE amount of tomatoes have been piled up in the field as I do not get chance to send it to market due to shortage of vehicle. Farmer Selim said he would fail to pay the loan which he took from a local NGO during the time of farming. Meanwhile, whole sellers in the area said earlier Tk25,000 to Tk26,000 were charged by a trucker to freight the vegetable to Chittagong and Dhaka, but now the truck is charging Tk1,20,000 as freight cost. Dr Saiful Alam, agriculture officer of Godagari upazila, told the Dhaka Tribune tomato was cultivated in the area commercially for the last 10 to 12 years and over Tk4 billion was earned yearly. We are in fear this year, the earning might not reach Tk1 billion, he said. l
Prime accused in constable Irregularities and corruption delays Valukshi-Baradulari canalre-excavation murder case held
n Our Correspondent, Barisal
Alleged irregularities and corruption had been delaying the re-excavation of Valukshi-Baradulari canal under Gournadi upazila of Barisal. After visiting the spot, it was learnt that the re-excavation of 7km long portion of the canal from Khan Bari of Baradulari to Valukshi Bazar, connecting Palardi River at the cost of Tk42 lakh started from January 1, 2013 and was scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2013. World Food and Agriculture Organization funded the re-excavation project to increase food production by extending irrigation facilities under a specified design and schedule, said Moti Lal Roy, sub-assistant engineer of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation, Gournadi office. Local IRRI Boro block managers and farmers said labours of the contractor only re-excavated 2-3 feet deep earths and deposited those on the slopes inside the canal, causing re-siltation that is hampering free water flow. On other hand, in collaboration with the BADC authorities the contractor of the project had been using two 5qeusec electric pumps and one 2quesec electric pump to supply water in the canal for water irrigation in 17 IRRI blocks. Different block managers and farmers of the area alleged that the authorities had been supplying water to the canal before completing the re-excavation to erase the evidences of the irregularities and corruption in the project. As the depth and width of the canal were not fixed before starting the project, the work would not give any satisfactory result for the farmers in developingproduction, they added. AKM Abdul Hye, executive engineer of BADC Barisal office, said the contractor had completed 3.68km out of 7km work within December 31, 2013. Md Faruk Mia, owner of Faruk and Brothers, contractor of the project, had denied the allegations. l
tained injuries. Arsel was undergoing treatment at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital, while injured police constables Quader Mostafa and Hamid Sharif were admitted to Dampara Divisional Police Hospital. Earlier, three other accused Sumon, Sohel and Mitu Das were arrested in the case filed in connection with the killing of Police Constable Md Abdul Kaiyum, who was deployed at the bungalow of Chittagong ranges deputy inspector general. Miscreants hacked Kaiyum to death and injured three other police constables near the bungalow on November 3 when the policemen reportedly resisted the miscreants from mugging. l
Miscreants remove the fishplate of Sirajganj-Ishwardi rail track near Sirajganj sadar upazila
DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Feature
Jannati Hossain, CEO of Velocity, knows how to pimp your ride this year, Jannati says. n Tasnuva Amin Nova When it comes to pimping your
cant keep long nails because I have to fix cars, Jannati tells me, showing me her shortly manicured fingers. Jannati Hossain owns a car modifying shop in Dhaka called Velocity. With a love of cars since childhood, she has kicked her passion into fifth gear gear. ride, Velocity offers a wide range of body kits that can transform an ordinary vehicle, making it look like a sports car. Jannati recalls a customer with a sedan who wanted to surprise his wife. His only specification was: I want my Starlet not to look like a Starlet. When he came back a few days later, after Velocity had done its work, the customer could not even recognise his car. Imagine how surprised his wife must have been, Jannati laughed. Currently Velocity offers a wide range of car modification services, which include making car doors open like Lamborghini doors or butterflies, and anything that can be done in Bangladesh. They also specialise in interior car modifications, such as swapping out seats with different styles. However, Jannati does not want to do anything to a car that is unsafe or obscene which includes inappropriate stickers by Bangladeshi standards. Jannati and her friend Raymen Mohammad Siddique, the chief operating officer, opened the shop two years ago, and they currently have a team of five employees. Raymen has extensive experience in modifying cars, and he has been tinkering with his car since he was in school. It was not until last year that profits actually started coming in. I invested all my personal savings into the company after our silent partner left. This company is my baby, Jannati said in a possessive tone. They have a contract with a garage in Uttara where they send cars to complete heavy tasks; the rest they are able to do in their own workshops, one located in the same neighborhood and the other in Bashundhara. A speaker of seven languages including French, German and Chinese, the undergraduate English student at
Jannati Hossain dreams of owning a Ferrari one day. Meanwhile, she enjoys her souped up Toyota Carina SX NUS has a vision to expand her business into the countries whose languages she speaks. Growing up with two brothers, Jannati always longed for toy cars, which nobody ever bought for her. But she would slyly influence her brothers to break open their cars to bring out the inside parts. With those parts, she would then build prototypes of other cars, or sometimes even ships. She pointed to an advertisement of Need for Speed, the famous computer car game, and told me that she loved playing this in her childhood. My 22-year old interviewee is a keen observer of her clients: Most of my customers are males. The very few females who come in actually dont care about much beyond the exterior. Because women wear heels, I think they want their cars to look smart when they step out of its doors. Her knowledge about cars has also been enriched through reading. Given the backlash against being a girl and the environment here, I have to be very well read. To that end, Jannati
COURTESY
even skateboards, given that they are cool enough. She told me that her team is currently working on the latest technology for cyclists in Bangladesh for a future edition. As I browsed the very first issue of
In our patriarchal society, where female drivers are still viewed as aliens on wheels, Jannati has good reason to feel like a celebrity
Newly launched Torque magazine is for aficionados of anything that runs on wheels COURTESY This North South University student is also the editor of Torque magazine, which launched on December 31. It is the first automobile magazine in Bangladesh that deals with all kinds of vehicles, from bicycles to sports cars. In our patriarchal society, where female drivers are still viewed as aliens on wheels, Jannati has good reason to feel like a celebrity. With her vast knowledge about interiors, exteriors and engines, she knows exactly what needs to be done to turn a mediocrelooking car into a super car.
reads many articles on the internet, and is inspired by works in the US and UK. About her own magazine Torque, Jannati said: We dont mind talking about anything that runs on wheels,
Velocitys body kits can transform an ordinary vehicle into a sports car, or make the doors open like a Lamborghinis
The first thing this car enthusiast recommends for a car of any model is an engine swap. This, she says, is the smartest way to improve a machines performance. It can even increase the longevity of an automobile. Id say those who take care of their car engines are the smartest drivers. Good performing engines are the in-thing for car modification
Torque, laid out on the coffee table in the cafe where we met, I came across an article on Paul Walker. The actor has recently been in news for his death in a tragic car accident. I asked if she was a fan of this Fast and Furious heartthrob. Well, he was the sweetheart of the movie, with his blue eyes. He used to remind me of my brother who also had a car accident recently, but was saved by a miracle, she said. She pointed to the page and switched to professional gear: This article talks about how the scarlet 2005 Porsche Carrera GT, in which Walker died, might not have had the Porsche Stability Management System (PSMS) usually installed during manufacturing. This device warns the driver when the car goes out of control or when there are any other abnormal signals, and is mandatory in all cars of the brand. Who knows it could have saved his life. Being CEO and editor does not stop Jannati from getting her hands dirty in the tinkering activities when needed. Jannati went under a car dressed in a long T-shirt and jeans, her work clothes, to fix something. She described the feeling as empowering. l Velocity is located at Road 19, Plot 1, Uttara, Sector 11, Dhaka.
COURTESY
A lending hand
akib Islam and Shamim Islam, two twenty-three-year-olds honors candidates at Nabab Sirajuddaulah college of Natore, are visionary youth leaders. While still students, they have established a community library in their village. Donate one book and get the opportunity to read many more is their slogan.
Two young students bring a community library to their Natore village Rakib and Shamim had always want- spend time productively, as opposed to n Sohara Mehroze Shachi ed to undertake development initia- engaging in drug abuse and other harmful
tives for their community, but they did not know how to plan and execute such projects. When they heard of the Leadership Development Program (LDP) a USAID funded project of Counterpart International they signed up. During the training, Rakib conceived the idea of establishing a library in their village as an outlet for young people to activities usually prevalent in the village. Rakib reached out to the local school headmaster to let him use some school space for the library. The headmaster agreed and allocated a room in the primary school for the initiative. The community members wholeheartedly supported Rakibs endeavour, and Shamim got involved in implementing his plan. In September 2013, their mini library was born. To collect books, the duo personally went door to door in their community, and they have already collected more than 300 books of different genres. Daily newspapers are also available at the library, which people can read for free. Each day from 3pm-10pm the library remains open and 30-40 people of all ages come daily to peruse the books and newspapers. The aim of LDP is to inspire and equip citizens with the necessary skills to become agents of change in the democratic processes and development for their communities. Under this program, training for youth leaders is imparted in three phases: action and advocacy, informed citizenship, and communication and leadership. With the help of grants from Counterpart, Rakib and Shamim plan to expand their village library into a ful-
The local headmaster has temporarily allocated a room in the primary school for the initiative ly-fledged information center, with facilities such as: internet, photocopiers, printers and information on agriculture and health care. These may sound insignificant to the privileged, but such facilities are a novelty for people in their village, and their initiative is a necessary and commendable one. The success of their first initiative has inspired these ambitious youth leaders to undertake further development projects. The Department of Youth Development (DYD) of the Ministry of Youth and Sports has youth training centers in most areas, but they are often handicapped by a shortage of facilities and/ or qualified personnel to impart training. In the near future, the duo intends
COURTESY
Rakib and Shamim (left) distributing books to children at Shibdur village youth library
to start adult education initiatives, farming schools and English language classes -- involving students from their university and other LDP leaders. They also plan to spread social awareness in their community regarding issues such as child marriage, drug addiction and the dowry system prevalent vices in their community. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n Agencies
South Sudanese government troopsare battling for the recapture of the last remaining rebel stronghold of Bor, the army said, a day after wresting control of a key northern oil city. There is still ighting near Bor, South Sudans army spokesman Philip Aguer told AFP news agency on Saturday, amid government efforts to mobilise thousands of more troops and deal a inal, crushing blow to RiekMachar, former vice president and his allies. United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council meanwhile urged President Salva Kiir to free political detainees loyal to rebel leader Machar, in order to kick-start stalled peace talks. The UN leader also warned that evidence of widespread atrocities committed during the nearly monthlong conflict would be investigated, and that perpetrators of serious hu-
Israels Ariel Sharon South Sudan army fight for final rebel stronghold dies at 85
n Agencies
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has died, according to local media reports. He was 85 years old and had been in a coma since 2006 when a stroke incapacitated him at the height of his political power. Officials at Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv, where Sharon was being treated for most of the past eight years,announced a week agothat Sharons health had deteriorated sharply and that he was in grave condition with his family at his bedside. Sharon firsthad a small stroke in December 2005 and was put on bloodthinners before experiencing a severe brain hemorrhage on January 4, 2006. After spending months in the Jerusalem hospital where he was initially treated, Sharon was transferred to the long-term care facility at Tel Hashomerhospital.He was taken home briefly at one point but returned to thehospital, where he has remained since. In September, Sharon underwent surgery to insert a new feeding tube. Sharon was one of Israels most iconic and controversial figures. As one of Israels most famous generals, he was known for bold tactics and an occasional refusal to obey orders. As a politician he became known as the bulldozer, a man contemptuous of his critics while also capable of getting things done. A prominent hardline voice over the decades, he was electedprime minister in 2001. In mid2005, he directed a unilateral withdrawal of Israeli troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip, ending a 38-year military control of theterritory. It was a shocking turnaround for a man who had been a leading player in building Jewish settlements in captured territories. He later left his hardline Likud Party and established the centrist Kadima Party. He appeared on his way to an easy re-election when he suffered a stroke in January 2006. His deputy, Ehud Olmert, took over and was elected prime minister a few months later. l
South Sudan government troops reclaim rebel-controlled areas man rights violations will be held accountable. The fighting has forced around a quarter of am to flee their homes and caused very substantially in excess of a thousand dead, according to the UN.
REUTERS
The International Crisis Group, an independent think-tank, said it believed as many as 10,000 people have been killed in just four weeks of fighting in the worlds youngest nation, which only won independence from Khartoum in 2011. l
AFP
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish president Abdullah Gul called it a judicial coup. Erdogan repeatedly lashed out at Muammer Akkas, a Turkish prosecutor who said he had been prevented from expanding the corruption investigation and described a new police regulation obliging those carrying out probes to inform superiors as unconstitutional. Although the regulation was later abolished, the government sought to further clip the wings of the judiciary
AFP
by proposing legal amendments which will limit the authority of the Higher Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), the countrys top judicial regulatory body. Amid this fray Gul, who had stayed mum on the issue for a long time, broke his silence and came to the defence of the judiciary. He countered Erdogan by saying that the judiciary should be free from government interference. l
OTHER NEWS
Woman to give birth to own granddaughter in US
A 58-year-old Utah woman is expecting a baby she is carrying for her daughter, with plans to give birth to her own granddaughter, reports said Friday. Julia Navarro, a Peruvian who lives in the western US state, agreed to be implanted with one of her daughter Lorena McKinnons fertilized eggs after the 32-year-old had a string of miscarriages. As a family, we have to help each other, Navarro, who is expecting to give birth the baby in early February, told The Salt Lake Tribune newspaper. Navarro, a nurses aide, had to undergo tests to ensure she was physically fit to give birth. She had been menopausal for about 12 years but gave herself hormone shots every day for three months to prepare for being implanted. She and her daughter also had to sign contracts about parental rights and take three months of state-ordered counselling. The psychologists wanted to make sure we knew what we were getting into that we were mentally prepared, said McKinnon. Mostly, surrogacy contracts are with people you dont know. It was weird to have a contract with my mom. Doctors gave her only a 45% chance of an egg being successfully implanted. But it worked the first time, and the pregnancy has gone smoothly, with no morning sickness, cravings or discomfort. McKinnon read up on pregnancy tips. I told her to drink more water... not to eat peas I had heard they were bad and not to cross her legs because it might hurt her circulation, McKinnon said of her mother. But Navarro reminded her that she had given birth to two daughters, and knew how to do it, thank you very much. Its worked out better than I ever expected... I didnt want to get my hopes up, but we havent had any complications, said the babys father Micah McKinnon. Im pretty happy about it, he said. The McKinnons said they would like more children, after the soon-to-be birth of their first baby from eggs fertilized in vitro. We still have five embryos left, said Lorena McKinnon. sparked outrage in Brazil and a police investigation. The ad featured a photo of two black children, and suggested any blacks purchased could serve as carpenters, masons, cooks, security guards, nightclub bouncers, janitors, garbage collectors, or housekeepers. Within a few hours, some 1,700 Brazilian responded with outraged comments. Government officials also weighed in, with the agency in charge of racial equality urging online vendor MercadoLivre to turn over information on the author of the ad to bring charges against him. The ad was an offense to the entire society, rights official Carlos Alberto Silva Junior told AFP Friday. Incitement to discrimination or prejudice by race, colour, ethnicity or religion is punishable by two to five years in jail and by a fine, he added. He emphasized that the Internet sites should assume their share of responsibility and put in place filters to block any racist content. MercadoLivre, the biggest online buying and selling community in Latin America, said it has turned over account information for the person who posted the ad, which went up Sunday, to Rio de Janeiro police and an investigation was planned.
A shocking ad on one of Latin Americas biggest online marketplaces, offering blacks for sale for one real ($0.42), has
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, New Delhi
Indias new anti-graft party has signed up tens of thousands of members in a nationwide recruitment drive as it seeks to build support ahead of general elections, an official said Saturday. The Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party plans to contest seats in the elections due by May following its success in the Delhi state polls last month in which it routed the scandal-tainted Congress party that rules at the national level. We had nearly 50,000 people sign up in the first three hours of our membership drive, senior party leader Gopal Rai told AFP. The party is spearheaded by Arvind Kejriwal, 44, a former taxman who has modelled himself as an anti-corruption activist and is now Delhis chief minister. Observers say the Aam Aadmi Partys (AAP) popularity suggests it could become a bigger movement that could threaten the grip of the main parties, Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on national politics. The AAP has also drawn a string of high-profile recruits in a boost to its national aspirations and efforts to change the face of Indias graft-ridden politics. Prominent banker Meera Sanyal and GR Gopinath, the founder of a
9
India says no standoff with US in diplomat row n AFP, New Delhi
India said Saturday there was no standoff with Washington after it expelled a US diplomat in a bitter row over the arrest and strip search of an Indian consulate official in New York. Indian foreign minister Salman Khurshids comments came a day after New Delhi gave a US diplomat 48 hours to quit the country over the dispute that has seriously strained bilateral ties. There is no standoff between India and the US, Khurshid told reporters, adding if there are any issues the countries will sort them out mutually. Relations began fraying when Devyani Khobragade, Indias deputy consul-general in New York, was arrested last month on charges of visa fraud involving her domestic servant and lying about how much she paid her. Shortly before her indictment Thursday, Washington granted the Indian officer who has denied all charges full diplomatic immunity, allowing her to return to India in what appeared to be a compromise worked out with New Delhi. But the announcement late Friday that India had ordered the US diplomat to leave in apparent reprisal for its envoys treatment in New York suggested New Delhi was not ready to be entirely forgiving. l
Thai anti government protesters clash with riot policemen during a rally at a stadium to register party-list candidates in Bangkok
AFP
fic at the best of times, and say they could block other areas as part of their prolonged siege of the city. Paralyzing Bangkok is the latest bid in a two-month attempt by protesters to topple Yingluck. Eight people, including two officers, have been killed and scores injured in violence between protesters, police and government supporters in recent weeks. The government has repeatedly played down talk of a military intervention but officials said on Friday it had a plan to counter a coup if there was one. I dont think any coup will happen... this Monday the army and the police will take care of the (security) situation, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul told foreign media on Friday. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a news conference in New York on Friday urged all sides to show restraint as Thailands latest round of protests gathered pace. I am very concerned that the situation could escalate in the days ahead, particularly next Monday... when protesters said they will shut down Bangkok, Ban said. I urge all involved to show restraint, avoid provocative acts and settle their differences peacefully, through dialogue. l
Afghan President Hamid Karzai Relations between the US and Afghanistan have been poor for years, and negotiations over the bilateral security agreement (BSA) have erupted into a long-running public dispute. Karzai made a surprise decision not to sign the agreement promptly despite having pledged to do so, leading to the threat of a complete withdrawal of NATO troops by the end of 2014. It now seems unlike-
AFP
ly that the deal will be signed on time. Faizi said a ban on military operations in civilian areas was one of the Afghan conditions of signing the BSA. The ball is the US court, he said. We are waiting for practical steps to be taken to end to these operations and for the launch of a peace process. We believe the US can deliver on these demands. l
n AFP, Islamabad
A Pakistani teenager who sacrificed his life to stop a suicide bomber, saving the lives of hundreds of students, has been honoured with the countrys highest award for bravery. Aitzaz Hassan, 15, a student in Hangu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has become a national hero after tackling the bomber who came to attack his school on Monday, with hundreds of students inside. Hassan died in hospital after the bomber blew himself up at the school gates. No one else was wounded or killed in the incident. The office of Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif said it had advised President Mamnoon Hussain to approve the conferment of Sitara-eShujjat (star of bravery) to Shaheed (martyred) Aitzaz Hassan. Shaheed (martyred) Aitzazs brave act saved the lives of hundreds of students and established a sterling example of gallantry and patriotism, it said in a statement issued late Friday. An official in prime minister house told AFP on Saturday Hasans family is expected to receive the posthumous award on March 23, Pakistans national day following the presidents ceremonial approval. News of Hassans act led to an outpouring of tributes on social media. Pakistani newspapers, TV channels and social media sites had demanded a recognition of Hassans bravery, calling him a hero and calling for him to receive the nations highest award. Pakistan private TV channel express NEWS on Saturday broadcast footage from his village Ibrahimzai, in Hangu district in the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, showing groups of people laying floral wreaths on his grave and hailing him as a hero. l
More than 100 homes were destroyed in the fire but there were no immediate casualties
REUTERS
10
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
he aftermath of the parliamentary elections has witnessed waves of violence, particularly against minority communities. On election day, villagers in Jessore district were attacked by Jamaat-Shibir activists, forcing hundreds to flee by jumping into the river. Now two women from the same district have reportedly been raped as well. In the midst of these inexcusable crimes, the political blame game continues. It is a disgrace to the whole nation that while vulnerable minorities who are citizens of our own country are viciously attacked, political parties can seem more interested in accusing each other, rather than bringing the perpetrators to justice. This type of blame game is encouraged by the fact that communal crimes have not always been properly investigated in the past. Such impunity must end. People need protection by the law, not political point-scoring. We must make sure that crimes are properly investigated and guilty parties are punished to the fullest extent of the law. Not only must impunity be ended but efforts must be made to ensure that victims and their families should also be adequately compensated. It is important to act effectively to stop all violent attacks and to prevent unspeakable violations of the rights of minorities recurring in the country. Law enforcement authorities have a solemn duty to ensure that all people can live without any fear of being attacked. Where they have not been effective, they must be held accountable. The failure to protect our own people is a great shame for us all.
January 9 The 10th parliamentary election will be known as a bad case, as the worst election in the history of Bangladesh. Hasina has already lost her good image in the meantime. Some of us cannot remember our Liberation War in 1971, but the current situation makes it seem as if it is now worse than that war. Civil society, indeed everyone, is against such an election, except for the Awami League. One of my relatives is the administrative head of a district and another is a polling officer in Dhaka, but they along with their families are going through a very difficult time. People even now cannot forget the logi baitha, and now arson has been added to their troubles. Sheuly Haque
Impunity must end. People need protection by the law, not political pointscoring
haka citys public toilets are a municipal disgrace. In the first place, very few are provided for residents by the two city corporations, but to make matters worse, those few which they do oversee are poorly maintained and highly insanitary. There is no excuse for appalling conditions in public toilets. The city is not short of water and labour with which to clean facilities. The risk of water-borne disease spreading and the pollution and public nuisance exacerbated by the lack of adequate sanitation is too high to ignore. The city corporations badly need to increase the meagre amount of funding, reported to be only TK55lakh for the whole of Dhaka, which they make available for public toilets in their development budgets. Ensuring access to proper sanitation is a basic obligation of government from which everyone benefits. At the citywide level, this clearly requires better co-ordination of municipal services like waste disposal and water supply. The benefits of larger public works such as scheduled investments in sewage plants, are lost however if individuals do not have access to adequate toilet facilities in the first place. Investment in new facilities is needed as well as properly maintaining existing ones. Encouragement and incentives can also be given to improve the accessibility and quality of toilets owned and operated by private businesses, such as shopping malls and restaurants, as well as in public spaces. Municipalities must devote more resources to ensure proper access to sanitation.
January 9 In 2008 a piece of optimistic news appeared in print media, mentioning that BRRI had developed a variety of rice, namely Banglamoti, that was similar to the Basmati rice of Pakistan and India, but its yield was double. Both Pakistan and India export aromatic Basmati rice to USA, Europe, and to Middle-Eastern countries, and earn a great amount of foreign currency. Experimentally developed Banglamoti rice was cultivated in different regions in Bangladesh and the result was very encouraging. The news also mentioned that Banglamoti could be produced in both Amon and Aush seasons. It was further hoped that within ten years, half of the land of rice production in Bangladesh would be engaged in growing the Banglamoti variety. Five years, or ten seasons, have passed, but in the main wholesale rice markets in Dhaka, Banglamoti rice is not available. The well-off in Bangladesh consume imported Basmati rice in social functions. But the common men and women cannot afford it, as the import cost on it is too high. It was hoped that as aromatic Banglamoti yield is double to that of Basmati, the general public would be able to regularly consume Banglamoti, and a good amount of Banglamoti rice could also be exported to earn foreign currency. A recent report states that the long Banglamati paddy could not be husked in the traditional rice mills. A few mills in Gazipur can husk Banglamoti paddies and produce Banglamoti rice. The department of agriculture needs to initiate a special project to popularise the growth of Banglamoti rice amongst the farmers in every district, and also take measures to solve the problem of husking it. Md Ashraf Hossain
PA
No one is listening
January 6 Civil society and almost everyone from each party has urged the government to stop the one-sided election of the 10th Parliament. Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid requested not to blaze the schools, where people came to vote, but both have happened in full swing! We, the public, are in big trouble! Wonder when our troubles will end. MM Khaled Ahsan
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Ensuring access to proper sanitation is a basic obligation of government from which everyone benefits
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place. I, for instance, am as opposed to the elections as I am to the violence perpetuated by the opposition. But I see so many people changing their profile pictures to a black poster that cleverly personifies voting rights and depicts a gravestone with the words Born in 1991, Died in 2014 and joining pages highlighting this poster, and I wonder if they were in some sort of unfortunate comatose state between the years 1996 and 2008.
Facebook politics
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n Gowher Rizvi
n the last few days, newspapers, commentators and talk show experts have been proffering conflicting views as to the legality of the members-elect of parliament taking oath of office before the end of tenure of the ninth parliament on January 24. The discussion has, quite unnecessarily, caused confusion in the minds of the people. Some of the comments coming from leaders of political parties are understandably politically motivated. It is, however, less easy to understand how our learned legal scholars, constitutional experts, eminent editors of the dailies, and pontificating stars of TV talk shows are making the same mistakes. This is largely because, wittingly or unwittingly, the commentators are reading the constitution selectively, or ignoring those parts of the constitution that do not fit their argument. Our constitution is quite precise, clear, and has left nothing in doubt. The references to oath taking and assumption of office are discussed in two different articles of the constitution. The first is a general oath that is applicable for offices that require taking an oath, and the second refers only to the members-elect of the parliament. The general provision for oath of office is found in Article 148(3). It says: Where under this constitution a person is required to make an oath before he enters upon an office he shall be deemed to have entered upon the office immediately after he makes the oath. The confusion seems to have been caused by the phrase that a person
shall be deemed to have entered upon the office immediately after taking the oath. As will be seen, this provision is not applicable to the parliament members-elect. If one reads the constitution further, one will discover that the constitution has made a clear exception for the members of parliament. Article 123 (3) proviso elaborates the conditions for the oath-taking of the MPs when a parliamentary election is held in the case of a dissolution by reason of the expiration of its term, within the period of 90 days preceding such dissolution. This was precisely the case with the January 5 elections that was held under Article 123(3) sub-clause (a).
reads as follows: I will faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter according to law These words unequivocally distinguish between the taking of the oath and the assumption of the office by the new MPs on a future date. This clearly shows that there is no question of two parliaments the 9th and 10th parliaments existing at the same time. The 9th parliament remains in place until it expires on January 24. The 10th parliament will come to life when convened by the president on January 25, or as soon as possible after that date. Perhaps it would also be useful to clarify why there was an urgency
It is important that the newly elected government adheres to constitutional norms. We must also be wary of creating unnecessary confusion
The proviso under Article 123 (3) says the member-elect under Article 123(3) sub-clause (a) shall not assume office as members of parliament, except after the expiration of the term referred to therein. The constitution had correctly anticipated that the election of a new parliament would overlap with the old by a few weeks, and hence it made a separate provision taking this into consideration. The framers of the constitution, perhaps anticipating such confusion, had further clarified the situation in the Third Schedule of the constitution. The text of the Oaths and Affirmations prescribed for the MP-elects to swear in the new members of parliament whilst the members of the 9th parliament were still in situ. This arises both from constitutional and practical compulsions. Under Article 148 (2A) of the constitution, it is obligatory for the speaker of the parliament to administer the oath to the members-elect. There are also some compelling practical and logistical reasons as to why the oath has to be administered. First, it is only after the oath has been administered that the majority party can elect its parliamentary leader. Second, until the parliamentary leader is elected, the leader of the majority
party cannot request the president to convene the new parliament (after the expiry of the old). Third, and perhaps most importantly, the person elected as the leader of the parliament is also the prime minister-designate. She must select her cabinet, swear them in, and begin the work of the state without any delay. The need for constitutional propriety and rule of law is vital for strengthening and institutionalising democracy. To that extent, it is important that the newly elected government adheres to constitutional norms and conventions. However, we must also be wary of creating unnecessary confusion, chaos and rancour that will detract the government from getting on with its task of addressing the urgent needs of the people. The people of the country have suffered for months. The violence, arson, deaths, mayhem, destruction of private and public property, loss of livelihood and businesses, and disruption of schools and colleges must be brought to an end. The minority community must be kept safe from death and carnage, and be able to sleep and pray in their temples without fear. Children should be able to play without being blown up by bombs and explosives. The daily wage labourers can bring home their income to feed their families. These are the important tasks ahead for the nation. We must not create further distractions or confusion. Instead, we must come together, put aside our differences, and make sure we put the interest of the people first. l Gowher Rizvi is Adviser to the Prime Minister, and Professor Emeritus of Public Policy.
or the past few days, between combating a viral fever and trying to finish my term papers, I have been attempting to keep up with our immortal political uproar by lazily typing in Bangladesh news into Google search. Inevitably, the results fired back at me were from English dailies like The Telegraph and The Independent. The very day a female lawyer of the opposition was brutally attacked, it became international news. The first result my search brought back was an appropriately condemning article on it by Huffington Post. It has now been several days since an entire Hindu community was looted, torched, and ravaged, and its members attacked by opposition goons because they participated in the elections despite Jamaat activists warning against it, and not yet has a single word been said by any of those maternally concerned Western cohorts of egalitarianism. A similar trend is seen across the general population of our favourite cybernetic city of Facebook as well. My newsfeed, which was previously deluged with pictures of and statuses about the hideous attack on the lawyer by a plethora of friends and pages, is now a barren land of tumbleweed and selfies. Somewhere in the back pocket of that same Facebook, I found a passage that crisply summed up this constant privileging of Muslims and constant marginalisation, rejection, and persecution of minorities in our country. Some very important things were said, and I feel it my responsibility to share a bit of it. Unfortunately, there was no indication of who the author was.
I will not participate in this well-intended but fundamentally flawed Internet movement
An entire Hindu community was ravaged, and not a word has been said by Western cohorts
This campaign of violence seeks to carve out a new national identity, a Bangladeshi identity which makes the political aspirations leading up to 1971 irrelevant, an identity that rejects the state that was founded on the values of economic justice, secularism and pluralism. These are not just attacks on a religious minority, these are attacks on the fundamental values that midwived the birth of Bangladesh. And make no mistake, once there are no Hindus left in Bangladesh, they are coming for you. Now, I must add a disclaimer that speaking against opposition hooliganism should not be taken as speaking in favour of the elections that took
I am confident that most people are entirely aware, but just to briefly recap: BNPs conduct in the 6th parliamentary elections in 1996 led to the Awami League and other opposition parties boycotting it, and the need to hold a second election four months later under the supervision of the caretaker government whose elections management role was installed by demand from the current ruling party (the role that very government is now ironically trying to abolish). Again, BNPs appointing of their very own Iajuddin Ahmed as chief adviser of the caretaker government in 2006 led to the Grand Alliance boycotting the elections, and its subsequent postponement till the end of 2008, along with the two-year military-backed caretaker government rule. So lets take a look at the cases. 1996 boycott. 2006 boycott and a two year political crisis. 2014 abolishing the caretaker government with the offer of multiple ministerial positions for opposition parties in the all-party interim government, leading to boycott. So while I do appreciate the posters comic element and its message of democratic uprising, I will not participate in this well-intended but fundamentally flawed Internet movement, for reasons similar to why I wouldnt change my profile picture to the spinoff of the HRC logo for LGBT rights, or the PETA logo for animal rights. I am an advocate of LGBT rights, but I am not going to support an organisation that tries to achieve those rights through racist, xenophobic and elitist policies. I am an advocate of animal rights, but I am not going to support slogans that try to achieve those rights through fat-shaming and ableism. I am an advocate of democratic rights, but I am not going to support movements that try to achieve those rights through false advertising. l Niyonta Nahia Chowdhury is a freelance contributor.
n Naeem Ahmed
n the days of yore, when men were men, and giants strode the earth, there used to be a website. It was called unheardvoice. It was, for a while, very good. Then it stopped being as good. Then it disappeared. So it was with great interest that I recently read acolumn in the Dhaka Tribuneby AsifSaleh, one of the founders of unheardvoice.
is about choosing sides. But democracy, as far as we know, is about the freedom to choose sides, but maybe as importantly, the freedom not to choose any side. The freedom to be left alone. In fact, the majority ofthe people in our country have not chosen sides. Their votes alternate between the two parties, election after election, with the result thatneither of the two parties has ever managed to get a majority of the votes cast, since 1991.
Democracy, as far as we know, is about the freedom to choose sides, but maybe as importantly, the freedom not to choose any side
What does Mr Salehwant? He wants us to stop blaming the AwamiLeague for the recent violence. He wants us to label the current ongoing political agitation by the opposition, including presumably the December 29 road march to Dhaka, as terror. And he advances the notion that while the AL is responsible for its failure in stating clear and convincing terms for an interim government, everything else going on in Bangladesh today, including the grisly violence and murder we are seeing every day, is BNPs fault directly or indirectly. Mr Salehs piece is labelled Politics However, we have a funny kind of democracy currently in Bangladesh. One where you are not free to contest an election, or withdraw your candidacy, if you want. Where you are not free to resign from the cabinet, nor from the parliament, if you want. And, depending on who you are, you may not even get to choose whether you need to be admitted into a hospital or not. Politics is about choosing sides. Which is ironic, because thats exactly what the AL refuses to let the people of Bangladesh do. For if you think about it, what is a general election, except for a gigantic exercise of choosing sides?
You stand in the voter booth, and you choose a side. Or if you dont show up to vote, you are also choosing a side. But one way or another, a choice is made. Except for the just concluded elections, of course. An election in which people in 154 constituencies, out of 300,did not have to choose sides. Their representatives had already been elected. So perhaps, there should bea postscript to Mr Salehs formulation: Politics is about choosing sides as long as you choose mine. Or perhaps, in Orwellian terms: All sides good, my side better. Mr Saleh further thinks that anyone who has not chosen a side in the current conflict is somehow aRazakar. Of course, if you choose the wrong side, as SajeebWazedJoy explained to us when talking about the EUs decision not to send election observers, you are also a Razakar. You see how much fun this could be? Perhaps the US, which also didnt send election observers, is full of Razakars. But Mr Wazedlives in the US. But perhaps, Mr Salehis confused about what the word means. He says: Razakars in 1971 were not necessarily malevolent people. They were scared to take sides, they wanted the safety of not having to choose. Which is funny, because I thought Razakars were the people who in fact did choose sides the wrong side. I thought they were the people who systematically unleashed a campaign
A funny kind of democracy? of murder, looting, and rape against their fellow countrymen. That instead of being afraid to choose, they chose, to paraphrase Indiana Jones, poorly. Mr Salehs call to choose has already become irrelevant in todays Bangladesh. The choice is no longer between AL and BNP. Mahfuz Anam wrote: We want to tell the prime minister and the AL that it is no longer a matter between the ruling party and the opposition. It is between the voters and the un-elected parliament that is being forced upon us. Election belongs to the people and we feel that it has been taken away from us. And again, we as voters cannot and will not accept this. Which side is that coming from? Mr Saleh wants people to choose a side. If I were him, I would worry less about people choosing a side and more about people judging his side.His side can keep postponing the judgment, but, sooner or later, its coming. l Naeem Ahmed is a freelance contributor. This article was first published in jrahman. wordpress.com.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk
Thirty-one films including three Bangladeshi films will be screened today at the ongoing Dhaka International Film Festivals third day, at different venues across the capital. The films cover six categories- Retrospective, Cinema of the World, Childrens Film, Women Filmmakers, Short and Independent Films Section, and Spiritual Films Section. The festival features a competition in three categories- Asian and Australian and those of the six segments. Five films will be screened today at the main auditorium of National Museum from 10am to 9pm in the Cinema of the World and Retrospective and Tribute categories, The Deflower-
Jonakir Alo
Sahraa Karimi: Womans storytelling technique varies greatly from that of a mans
n Hasan Mansoor Chatak
Sahraa Karimi, an Afghan film director and screenwriter is currently in Dhaka, as her films are being showcased at the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival. Dhaka Tribune caught up with the filmmaker to know about her storytelling techniques and more. Afghan origin and during the early years of their marriage, they moved to Iran, where I was born. The film is set around a young girl with a docile and calm nature, who emigrated to Slovakia from Afghanistan. It is a common notion that displacement has the power to make one feel out of their depth and this fact is portrayed in the film.
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
Shilpacharya and his Outer World of Art Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Dhanmondi Bahram Time: 3pm 8pm Dhaka Art Center (DAC) House-60, Road-7A Dhanmondi
Film
I am a film director from Afganistan. I studied in the Czech Republic and have acquired my PhD from the Academy of Music and Performing Arts, Film in Slovakia. A year ago, I returned to Afganistan and started working. I will be screening two of my best work at the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival. One is a long length documentary and another is a short length fiction film. Im also a jury member of Spiritual Section: Interfaith Jury for Spiritual Films. I have participated in the International conference on women in cinema, with my keynote paper titled Filmmaker as Civil Activist.
Your film Afgan Women behind the Wheel is also going to be exhibited, please elaborate.
Yes, it is to be showcased in the festival. Afgan Woman behind the Wheel is a documentary, I made it in 2009. The feature is about four women, one of them is a taxi driver and the other three wants learn driving a taxi from her. The film is metaphorical and it demands the basic human rights of these women. It got 19 awards from around the world, including Academy Awards in Slovakia.
you think that your work is inspired by Iranian New Wave Cinema?
Pacific Rim in 3D, Escape Plan The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Gravity Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park
Festival
Shoptopodi Time: 6:00pm 8:30pm International Digital Cultural Archive, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha
Iccheghuri will air tonight at 8:15pm on NTV. The interesting drama features popular soap actors such as Aparna, Mishu Sabbir, Sporshia, Shumon Patwari, Kazi Asif, Partha Barua, Shahriar Huda, Tahsan as guest actor and many more. The drama will be telecasted every week on Saturday and Sunday respectively
My first work was a documentary titled Searching for Dream and it is a nice coincidence that my first film was also exhibited in Dhaka International Film Festival 2006. I created both fiction and documentary film and during my studies I made 30 short films.
I have this drive within myself to communicate with the world, not just my own people. Filmmaking for me is the mode of that need to communicate, rather than being just a job or means for earning.
European new wave and new trends are close to my work as I have been residing outside Iran for about 12 years. I dont believe in Iranian New Wave, as the western critiques term it. For me, its like an Iranian new way of telling stories. I believe that Italian Neo-realism, French New Wave and Romanian New Wave have effects on my films.
Your film Light Breeze is going to be exhibited at the 13th Dhaka International Film Festival. Tell us about it.
Light Breeze is a fiction film, but it also has elements of my personal experience as an emigrant from Iran to Slovakia. My parents are of
Many critiques in Afghanistan says that my films are full of feminism. I believe that women can be equally good filmmakers, like men. Also, a womans storytelling technique varies greatly from that of a mans.
Do you have cooperation with woman filmmakers of Afganistan, as another short film of an Afghanistani woman filmmaker is going to be exhibited in DIFF?
No, we dont have such opportunities in Afghanistan, for lack of funding and other difficulties. I work individually outside the country and I have some funding in Slovakia. l
ON TV
MOVIE
8:40pmZee Studio
Cold Creek Manor Taken 2
DRAMA
8:30pm Sony
Adaalat
COMEDY
12:30pm Z Cafe
Friends
Sport
Baridhara
Zahid Hasan Emily and Wahed Ahmed - as well as Egyptian forward Mostafa Seddik - who were unable to create enough chances and displayed a lack of finish touch. Traditional crowd-pullers Mohammedan were unable to distinguish themselves with newcomers to the top flight Uttar Baridhara Club. Indeed, it was Uttar who battled solidly in the first half and went on to pile on the pressure in the second. It was the Bangladesh Championship League runners-up who created the first chance in the 14th minute. A misunderstanding between Mohammedan defenders Mintu Sk and Bayebeck Fombagne allowed Abul Kalam Azad Sumon hold gus position for a while but the forwards tipping shot from the top of the box missed the bar. Mohammedan had their first chance at the half hour mark through a long throw from Tapu Barmon. Receiving the ball from the right back inside the box, midfielder Habibur Rahman Sohag circled around a defender and passed the ball forward immediately to Jahid Hossain, but the wingers weak shot was easily taken by the keeper. Moments later, Uttar Baridhara counter-attacked with Nigerian midfielder Kosoko providing a through ball to Abul Kalam Azad Sumon who drifted into the penalty area and took a shot that was saved by diving goalie Mamun Khan. Wahed Ahmed could have scored the opener in the 45th minute when he skipped past two defenders to enter the penalty area but he shot just inches over the bar. Baridhara goalkeeper Osman Goni made a decent save to deny Tapu Barmans shot from the d-box six minutes into the second half. The best chance came five minutes later. Baridharas Nigerian striker Akindele showed great control to receive a lobbed pass from Nigerian defender Quadri Larne but his powerful volley was superbly saved by Mamun Khan. At the hour mark, Nigerian midfielder Demian Chigozie, who had come in for Wahed Ahmed early in the second half, slid a fine ball into the path of Mostafa Seddik but the Egyptian forward was slow to connect with the cross. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 6 3
DAYS TO GO
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
Mohammedan
00
30 30 45 51
56
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lowed Abul Kalam Azad Sumon to hold the position but the forwards tipping shot from the top of the box missed the bar. Shohag circled around a defender inside the box and passed the ball forward to Jahid Hossain whose weak shot was no trouble for the keeper. Sumon drifted into the penalty area but his shot was saved by diving goalie Mamun Khan. Wahed Ahmed skipped beat two defenders to enter the penalty area and shot just inches over the bar. Osman Goni made a decent save to deny Tapu Barmans shot from the d-box. Nigerian striker Akindele showed great control to take a powerful volley, following a lobbed pass from Nigerian defender Quadri Larne. Mamun Khan produced a superb save. Substitute Nigerian midfielder Demian Chigozie slid a fine ball into the path of Mostafa Seddik but the Egyptian forward could not meet the ball.
Uttar Baridhara players Shohidul Islam Swapan and Shomuruddin Bhuiyan (L) embrace emotionally, while a Mohammedan player is left downhearted at the end of their Bangladesh Premier League match at the BNS yesterday MUMIT M
Jan 12 15 Central Zone v East Zone at BKSP 2 North Zone v South Zone at BKSP 3 National discard Shahriar Nafees, who will play for Central Zone, is eying to regain his touch in the tournament. I have been shot of runs for a while, which is why the tournament is important for me. I am thankful to the BCB and the franchises for pulling up the strings and arranging the tournament and special thanks to my side Walton Central Zone for selecting me, and giving me an opportunity, he said. This seasons tournament will be a fragmented affair. The first two rounds will be completed by January 21, but will break for the Sri Lanka series, the Asia Cup in February and the ICC World Twenty20 in March. The BCB tournament committee made the decision to accept such a long gap in the tournament as the franchisee representatives requested that as many national players could participate in the event. Consequently, the tournament will resume with the third round at a time convenient for the countrys top players. l
FIXTURE
Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, the chief guest and DU VC AAMS Arefin Siddique, the special guest, pose with the BSPA Award winners at the NSC gymnasium yesterday MUMIT M
SQUAD
Shadman Islam, Najmul Hossain, Yasir Ali Chowdhury, Musaddek Hossain, Mehidy Hassan, Saeed Sarker, Joyraj Sheik, Mohammed Jasim Uddin, Abu Hider Rony, Rifat Pradhan, Mustafizur Rahman, Nihad-Uz-Zaman, Jubair Hossain, Rahatul Ferdous, Prosenjit Das, Zakir Hasan, Sifat Islam, Nahid Hasan, Munim Shahriar, Mohammad Sumon, Mohammad Noor Alam
14
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
SCORECARD
NEW ZEALAND
M. Guptill c Charles b Best J. Ryder c Charles b Miller B. McCullum not out R. Taylor c Bravo b Miller C. Munro c Fletcher b Best C. Anderson c Powell b Best L. Ronchi not out Extras: (b5, w1, nb1) Total: (5 wickets; 20 overs)
25 22 60 5 22 0 48 7 189
J. Charles c Ronchi b Neesham 16 L. Simmons c Ronchi b Milne 0 A. Fletcher c Ryder b N. McCullum 23 K. Powell c Guptill b N. McCullum 12 D. Bravo c Ryder b N. McCullum 10 A. Russell c Guptill b N. McCullum 0 C. Walton c Munro b Neesham 9 N. Miller not out 15 S. Narine c Milne b Neesham 0 S. Badree not out 14 Extras (lb2, w7) 9 Total: (8 wickets; 20 overs) 108 Bowling Southee 4 0 36 0 (2w), Milne 4 0 15 1, Neesham 4 0 16 3 (5w), N. McCullum 4 0 24 4, Anderson 4 0 15 0
New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum hits the ball during their Twenty20 international match against the West Indies at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday
AFP
FIXTURES
Newcastle Stoke City v v Man City Liverpool
league win at Stoke came at the Potters old Victoria Ground back in 1984. Daniel Agger will miss the trip to Stoke with a calf injury but striker Daniel Sturridge returned to training this week after an ankle problem. l
SCORECARD
PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS 165
(overnight 132 3) Khurram c Prasanna b Pradeep 6 Ahmed Shehzad c Prasanna b Herath 9 Hafeez c Prasanna b Pradeep 1 Younis Khan c Prasanna b Lakmal 77 Misbah-ul-Haq b Herath 97 Asad Shafiq c Karunaratne b Eranga 23 Sarfraz Ahmed not out 70 Bilawal Bhatti b Eranga 32 Saeed Ajmal not out 7 Extras: (b1, lb7) 8 Total: (for seven wkts; 123.3 overs) 330 Fall of wicket 1 11 (Shehzad), 2 12 (Hafeez), 3 19 (Manzoor), 4 148 (Younis), 5 200 (Shafiq), 6 245 (Misbah), 7 312 (Bhatti) Bowling Lakmal 22 3 62 1, Pradeep 19 3 50 2, Herath 43.3 8 124 2, Eranga 33 9 70 2, Mathews 5 1 9 0, Sangakkara 1 0 7 0
Pakistan batsman Misbah-ul-Haq is bowled out as Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene (R) looks on during the fourth day of their second Test at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai yesterday AFP
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
Alonso always committed to staying at Real
n Reuters, Barcelona
Xabi Alonso was never tempted to leave Real Madrid and his main consideration before signing a new contract was whether he could play at his best after an injury-plagued start to the season, he said on Friday. Alonso finally put pen to paper this week, however, on an agreement that will see him stay at the Bernabeu until 2016. Real Madrid will be able to make ground on at least one of their title rivals, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, when they travel to Espanyol on Sunday. Los Blancos lie five points off the top of the table and will be confident of closing the gap having not lost in any of their last 11 meetings with the Catalans. l
QUICK BYTES
FIXTURES
Getafe Real Betis Espanyol Levante v v v v Vallecano Osasuna Real Madrid Malaga
Chelsea's Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard celebrates scoring against Hull City during their English Premier League match at The KC Stadium in Hull yesterday
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri had his ban for failing to report match-fixing cut from nine months to six on Friday. He will be allowed to play again from next month following an appeal to the National Tribunal of Sporting Arbitration (TNAS). TNAS announces that in relation to Stefano Mauri and FIGC the Arbitration Board has partially upheld the demand for arbitration and accordingly upheld the decision of the National Disciplinary Committee dated Aug. 2, 2013, in which the player was handed the penalty of six months suspension, the body said in a statement. Mauri, 34, had initially been banned for six months in August by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for keeping quiet about match-fixing in Lazios games against Genoa and Lecce in May 2011. The midfielder was one of eight players accused of sporting fraud relating to Lazios final two matches of the 2010 11 season, when they beat Genoa 4 2 at home and Lecce by the same score away. Reuters
AFP
RESULTS
Cardiff
02
trick of his professional career as Sunderland won 4-1 at Fulham to climb off the foot of the table and close to within a point of safety. West Ham United spoilt Ole Gunnar Solskjaers first home game as Cardiff City manager as goals from Carlton Cole and Mark Noble gave Sam Allardyces side a 2-0 win that took them out of the bottom three at their hosts expense. In the days other game, a 66th-minute strike from captain Adam Lallana gave Southampton a 1-0 win at home to West Bromwich Albion. l
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Sunderland Johnson 29, 69, 85 P, Ki 41 Chelsea Hazard 56, Torres 87 West Brom Crystal Palace
02 10
DAYS WATCH
Sony Six NBA 2013 14 6:30AM Philadelphia v New York 08:29 AM Portland v Boston 12:00AM Pakistan v Sri Lanka 2nd Test, Day 5 Ten Golf 4:30PM Volvo Golf Champions Durban, SA - Day 4 Star Sports HD1 9:30AM Australia v England 1st ODI Italian Serie A 5:30PM Torino v Fiorentina 8:00PM Cagliari v Juventus La Liga 10:00PM Real Betis v Osasuna 12:00AM Espanyol v Real Madrid 2:00AM Levente v Malaga Star Sports 4 English Premier League 8:00PM Newcastle v Man City 10:00PM Stoke City v Liverpool 6:00AM (Monday) Australian Open 2014 Star Sports HD2 5:00PM La Liga Getafe v Rayo Vallecano 1:45AM Italian Serie A Sassuolo v AC Milan Ten Action French Ligue 1 2013/14 7:00PM FC Nantes v FC Lorient 10:00PM Evian Thononv Marseille 2:00AM LOSC Lille v Stade Reims Ten HD 6:30PM Ram Slam T20 Challenge Knights v Lions
weekend. Juventus played second fiddle to early season pacesetters Roma for the first three months of the season but in the lead-up to the Christmas break, Antonio Contes men moved up a gear. And on their return from wellearned holidays last week, the Bianconeri hit three unanswered goals against Roma in Turin to put a dent in the Giallorossis title hopes. Heading into the 19th round of matches Juve (49 points) have an eightpoint lead on Roma with Napoli, in third, a further two points off the pace.
FIXTURES
Torino Atalanta Cagliari Verona Roma Sassuolo v v v v v v Fiorentina Catania Juventus Napoli Genoa AC Milan
Cagliari, meanwhile, will welcome the champions without Radja Nainggolan, the Belgian international midfielder who signed for Roma in midweek on a four-year deal. AC Milan, meanwhile, trumped Roma in the transfer market stakes this
Roger Federer of Switzerland holds hands with current Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus as she plays a shot during the Kids Tennis Day before the Australian Open 2014 in Melbourne yesterday REUTERS
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
Many Hindu families of Jessores Monirampur upazila abandoned their homes following the recent attacks on Hindus in the area. The photo taken yesterday is of an empty home in Hajrail of the upazila DHAKA TRIBUNE
3 JCD men held for arson attack in Bangla Motor n Kailash Sarkar
The detective branch of Police yesterday disclosed the arrest of three youths for a series of arson attacks, including those on a police bus and a passenger bus in the capitals Bangla Motor and Paribagh areas killing at least three persons including a traffic police. The arrestees are Rabiul Islam Nayan, 26, Mohammadpur thana unit Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal joint convener, activists Anupam Chandra Roy, 24, a final year student of Law Department in Stamford University, and Jobayer Hossain, 22, hailing from Narsinghdi district. Of the three arrestees, Rabiul resided at Sher-e-Banglanagar while Anupam and Jobayer at Moghbazar. All of them were arrested from near Sonargaon intersection on December 6, claimed DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam. Monirul said the three youths admitted their involvement in the attacks with petrol bombs on a police bus at Bangla Motor on December 24 and another passenger bus on January 3 at Paribagh. A central JCD leader was the mastermind behind the attacks. Rabiul hurled the petrol bombs while Anup was driving a motorcycle carrying them, said the police official. Jobayer took part in the attacks after he was assured of a post in the city unit JCD and Anupam in the private university unit of the party. He added that the trio was also been given cash. The attack at Bangla Motor killed traffic police constable Ferdous Khalil and injured two others. l
Laboratory tests at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) has confirmed that two boys aged 13 and 14 died from NiV infection at Shibaloy and Ghior of Manikganj district on the last week of December last year
Prof Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, director of the Communicable Disease Control (CDC), said the CDC had launched a programme at 18 upazilas in the Nipahprone areas to create awareness among the raw date-palm sap sellers. The CDC director however said he had no knowledge about the four suspected NiV deaths in Rajshahi. The NiV an enveloped RNA virus belonging to genus Henipavirus is a highly pathogenic paramyxovirus, which is transmitted by the drinking of virus-contaminated raw date palm sap or through close physical contact with Nipah infected patients. The NiV infection has a fatality rate of 78%, with 148 people out of the 189 reported cases between 2001 and May 2013 succumbing to the disease in the country. l
People gather to see the body of the Shibir activist found abandoned near Brac intersection of Palashbari upazila town in Gaibandha yesterday FOCUS BANGLA
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
B4 Career: Distinguishing
individual intelligence prole
SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business
RAJIB DHAR
PM OPENS DITF
Kohinoor Chemical weeks worst loser at DSE n Tahmidur Rahman n Asif showkat kallol
Kohinoor Chemical Company (Bangladesh) Limited has came out to be the worst performing stock of the past week at Dhaka Stock Exchange. Its share price dropped by 9.54% to Tk351 a share in the past week. Shares of the company valued at Tk14.33 lakh were traded. In the first quarter (July-Sept) of the current fiscal year, the beauty product manufacturer posted net profit of Tk1.99 crore against Tk1.51 crore in the same period a year ago, according to its financial statement. The company experienced consistent increase in its revenue from sales over the last couple of years. According to its latest annual report, the company reported an increase in sales of Tk23.6 crore as the annual sales totalled Tk316.9 crore in 2012-2013 against Tk293.3 crore in the previous period. The additional sales were generated by increases sales of detergent powder, washing and toilet soaps. The companys revenue from net sales stood at Tk271.9 crore in 2012-2013 after VAT and supplementary duty deductions. Among local sales, the companys star product in terms of contribution to total sales is toilet soap. Its sales last year stood at Tk195.1 crore. The company also exports washing soap that contributed Tk12.83 lakh to net sales in the year 2012-2013. The export revenue saw a fall as the company had exported washing soap worth Tk30.8 lakh in the year 2011-2012. The company listed in the segment of pharmaceuticals and chemicals at DSE has a restated net asset value of Tk14.53 as of 2013, making the current stock price higher than 24 times its net asset value. l
BADC seeks loan from Sonali Bank to Private operators owe Tk3,000cr to BTRC import fertiliser
Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC) has sought loans from the state-owned Sonali Bank for importing fertiliser for the upcoming Boro season. The government, however, took a rigid stance in issuing counter guarantees against any credit due to fund crisis created in the wake of the political turmoil. These days, it has become a rare instance to get a counter guarantee for credits from the finance division even for the state-owned companies and corporations such as Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Bangladesh Chemical Industry Corporation and BADC, said a senior official of finance division. Apart from the fund crisis, he said International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also tightened its debt ceiling on Bangladeshi state-owned companies and corporations, he said. The finance division has asked the BADC to pay its all the unpaid bills or loans earlier received from Sonali Bank as soon as possible while the corporation filed a fresh request for loan worth about Tk309 crore for importing urea fertiliser for the upcoming Boro season, said the official. Boro is the key crop of the country, which contributes 55% of the total food grain production. The total rice output was around 3.38 crore tons in the current fiscal year, of which Boro contributed 1.88 crore tones. The target of Boro production has been set at 1.89 crore tons for the next season. As Sonali Bank is suffering from a serious fund crisis despite the government provided the Bank with about Tk2,000 core in the current fiscal year. So, under such a circumstance, the bank is not in a position to provide the required loans to the BADC, said a banking division source. The default loans of Sonali Bank stood at Tk 12,363 crore on December 31, 2012, up from Tk 5,705 crore in the same period of the previous year, thanks to the Hall-Mark and other financial scams, according to the preliminary data of the state-run bank. Finance Minister AMA Muhith has reportedly said the government would not give any counter guarantee of credits to BADC for importing one lakh tons of urea from Indonesia until and unless it pays back all the previous unpaid loans of Sonali Bank by February 15. During the financial year 2010-2011, finance division gave counter grantee of Tk2,631 crore to BADC but it took loan of Tk2,505 crore. The unpaid loan was Tk94 crore in the same fiscal year. The default loan of BADC rose to Tk366 crore in 2011-12 fiscal year and it was Tk2,130 crore in 201213 fiscal year, according to the proposal. According to the Food Crop Wing (FCW) under the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) and Bangladesh Fertiliser Association (BFA), the total requirement for urea in the next Boro season is around 18.5 lakh tonnes. l
some 28 private IGW operators was Tk500 crore, but it went up to Tk946 crore in mid-November last year. Only six politically-backed IGWs increased the dues by more than Tk600 crore, sources said. Of them, BTRC last week filed a certificate case against Telex Ltd having an outstanding of only Tk92.5 crore. But other operators owned by former ministers daughters, sons and close relations are opportune ones that have not faced any legal action yet. The total due of the Interconnection Exchange (ICX) operators was Tk211 crore in June last year, but after November it stood at Tk249 crore while that of International Internet Gateway (IIG) amounts increased to about Tk9 crore from Tk30 lakh only. Citycell, the oldest mobile phone operator, could not pay any money in 2013. Their total dues stood at Tk249 crore till mid-November, rising from Tk145 crore in June. BTRC had sent a letter to Citycell and gave them 15 days ultimatum in the last week of November, but the deadline is already over. Of the Citycells outstanding, 2G licence renewal fee is Tk229 crore and others are spectrum charge, revenue sharing and social obligation fund. The two Wi-Max operators Banglalion and Qubee owe to the telecom regulator respectively Tk33 crore and Tk18 crore, which was Tk29 crore and Tk15 crore in June last year. Besides, 12 private land phone (PSTN) operators have not paid Tk30 crore. Different private companies, internet service providers (ISPs) and some government departments have not deposited spectrum charges amounting to about Tk26 crore, which was Tk24 crore in June last year. l
B2
Institutional investors keep market afloat
n Kayes Sohel
Stocks witnessed rally for the second consecutive week on buying pressure particularly from institutional investors. During the week that ended Thursday, the benchmark DSEX soared 94 points or 2.3% to 4,407, which is 7-week high. The blue chip index DS30 rose 50 points or 3.4% to 1,555. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, gained more than 249 points or 3% to close the week at 8,663. The stock exchange shortened trading session to four days from usual five due to general holiday on Sunday on account of 10th national election. Volume of trade increased as the daily turnover averaged Tk457 crore, registering a 28% rise over the previous weeks average of Tk357 crore. The institutional investors are pouring fresh fund into stocks contributing to consolidate the market with a positive attitude, said LankaBangla Securities in its weekly market analysis. Investors seem to be highly optimistic about market direction ahead as the investors are expecting the new government to take popular decisions that would boost economic activities, it said. The government has reduced source tax in ready market garment (RMG) sector from 0.8% to 0.3% to boost the largest export earning sector as they are badly hit by recent political clashes, it said. The central banks consideration of expansionary and balanced mone-
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
STOCK WEEKLY
Closing (% change) 43.33 36.23 20.41 17.57 14.23 12.00 10.34 9.52 9.44 9.23
tary policy statement for second half of fiscal year 2013-14 is the most important trigger point for capital market, it said, adding that the market makers are anticipating monetary easing to boost up economic activities. However, it said real investment from entrepreneurs is still low due to continuous political clashes. Zenith Investments said investors may still be cautious about the political stance, however, they also seem enthusiastic to indulge themselves in the market thus boosting support level and helping the market in making its ground stronger. IDLC Investment said hope for a breathing space in political frontier influenced the week positively. Announcement of new incentives to textile sector assisted it to break out of its losing streak. In the mean time, expectations regarding upcoming monetary policy statement seemed to have come into play from the final session, influencing banks positively. During the week, gainers took a strong lead over the losers on DSE as out of 297 issues traded in the past week, 218 advanced, 56 declined and 23 remained unchanged. All the major sectors ended in green except banks which lost 0.2% in the past week. Engineering was the biggest winning sector that gained more than 5%, driven by National Tubes that surged over 20% following its positive earnings. Among other well performing sectors, pharmaceuticals, fuel & power, non-banking financial institutions and telecommunications were notable. l
Meghna Con. Milk -B Meghna PET Ind. -Z National Tubes -A Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Samata LeatheR -Z Shampur Sugar -Z Sinobangla Indu.-A MBL 1st M. F.-A Savar Refractories-Z Delta SpinnersA CSE GAINERS Company CVO PetroChem RL Z Samata LeatheR -Z Prime Insur -A Apex Foods -A Imam Button -Z ApexAdelchi Ftr -A Olympic Ind. -A Sinobangla Indu.-A Delta SpinnersA Miracle Industries -B
Average (% change) 46.76 36.51 19.53 16.67 13.74 13.33 8.96 9.51 8.13 Average (% change) 23.97 20.38 16.99 13.14 12.63 9.87 8.32 8.14 7.62 9.02
Closing average 12.90 9.46 88.33 8.75 28.06 8.50 32.09 6.91 60.00 43.38
Weekly closing 12.90 9.40 88.50 8.70 28.10 8.40 32.00 6.90 60.30 43.80
Weekly high 12.90 9.60 90.00 8.90 29.80 8.50 32.80 7.00 61.00 44.20
Weekly low 9.60 7.30 70.00 7.20 25.00 7.10 27.60 6.20 58.00 39.00
Turnover in million 6.365 2.516 69.151 0.088 3.881 0.188 38.683 12.199 0.051 226.767
Latest EPS -4.60 -0.52 1.84 -5.64 -0.08 -45.28 0.64 1.48 0.40 1.16
Latest PE -ve -ve 48.0 -ve -ve -ve 50.1 4.7 150.0 37.4
Closing (% change) 33.26 20.42 16.99 13.12 12.50 9.87 9.59 9.59 9.45 9.29
Closing average 750.00 28.89 35.80 105.22 9.01 490.00 160.15 31.90 43.35 20.07
Weekly closing 750.00 28.90 35.80 105.20 9.00 490.00 161.20 32.00 44.00 20.00
Weekly high 782.00 29.30 36.00 111.00 9.70 510.90 164.90 33.00 44.50 20.50
Weekly low 700.00 25.00 33.60 100.00 8.50 450.00 150.00 27.90 39.70 18.10
Turnover in million 0.878 0.844 0.208 0.561 0.295 2.106 9.186 12.183 21.099 2.960
Latest EPS -6.76 -0.08 2.36 3.96 -2.20 28.27 6.32 0.64 1.16 0.12
Latest PE -ve -ve 15.2 26.6 -ve 17.3 25.3 49.8 37.4 167.3
(+) 2.17% (+) 3.36% (+) 2.15% (+) 2.61% (+) 2.18%
Weekly high 380.00 204.40 144.00 39.00 22.00 20.40 8.70 193.70 17.00 105.00
Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
Weekly low 338.00 191.10 121.10 34.40 18.20 17.30 7.90 192.10 16.10 96.00 Turnover in million 1.528 0.259 0.868 0.402 17.556 10.190 6.160 0.097 40.389 11.871 Latest EPS 9.80 35.20 -15.39 1.01 1.41 0.91 0.40 31.96 -0.97 9.21
Average (% change) -9.56 -7.26 -6.04 -4.67 -4.79 -2.08 -3.69 -3.15 -2.32 -2.66 Average (% change) -12.55 -7.97 -9.08 -2.95 -5.07 -5.06 -4.11 -1.95 -0.97 -2.82
Closing average 350.89 190.00 140.00 37.93 20.69 19.73 8.10 193.70 16.41 102.82
Weekly closing 351.00 191.10 140.60 37.70 20.60 19.60 8.10 193.70 16.20 102.60
Latest PE 35.8 5.4 -ve 37.6 14.7 21.7 20.3 6.1 -ve 11.2
Miscellaneous
Closing average 341.07 38.00 20.63 19.42 33.70 305.00 7.00 17.63 38.90 6.90
Weekly closing 340.10 38.00 21.00 19.40 33.70 305.00 7.00 17.40 38.80 6.90
Weekly high 356.00 38.00 21.50 20.40 36.00 345.00 7.00 17.90 40.40 7.00
Weekly low 335.00 38.00 20.20 19.00 33.10 301.00 6.90 17.10 37.90 6.60
Turnover in million 0.651 0.038 0.295 0.243 0.257 6.097 0.318 0.730 8.513 0.021
Latest EPS 11.53 1.01 1.41 0.91 0.44 12.46 0.60 0.13 1.56 1.24
Latest PE 29.6 37.6 14.6 21.3 76.6 24.5 11.7 135.6 24.9 5.6
UNITEDAIR: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2013 to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts. POWERGRID: The Company has further
ANALYST
The institutional investors are pouring fresh fund into stocks contributing to consolidate the market with a positive attitude
DSE Million Taka 1347.73 1840.81 325.47 3267.01 796.49 2554.22 6.66 2502.74 1673.76 1.90 126.38 456.63 193.57 719.54 128.31 283.99 436.71 541.47 503.84 582.40 0.87
% change 7.37 10.06 1.78 17.86 4.35 13.96 0.04 13.68 9.15 0.01 0.69 2.50 1.06 3.93 0.70 1.55 2.39 2.96 2.75 3.18 0.00
Million Taka 119.47 165.45 27.04 396.25 102.39 197.16 0.00 246.86 140.42 0.32 17.42 18.15 34.38 51.87 25.22 12.01 28.80 45.75 79.67 132.05 0.06
CSE
% change 6.49 8.99 1.47 21.53 5.56 10.71 0.00 13.41 7.63 0.02 0.95 0.99 1.87 2.82 1.37 0.65 1.56 2.49 4.33 7.17 0.00
Million Taka 1467.20 2006.26 352.51 3663.26 898.88 2751.38 6.66 2749.60 1814.19 2.22 143.80 474.78 227.95 771.42 153.53 296.00 465.51 587.22 583.51 714.45 0.92
Total
% change 7.29 9.97 1.75 18.20 4.47 13.67 0.03 13.66 9.01 0.01 0.71 2.36 1.13 3.83 0.76 1.47 2.31 2.92 2.90 3.55 0.00
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Golden Son -A LankaBangla Fin. -A S Purbanchol Power-N Generation Next-A Appollo Ispat CL -N Summit Power -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Square Pharma -A Meghna Petroleum -A Grameenphone-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Appollo Ispat CL -N Golden Son -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N S Purbanchol Power-N LankaBangla Fin. -A UNITED AIR A Generation Next-A Orion Pharma-N Beach Hatchery -A
Volume shares 12,069,855 10,517,660 9,824,455 12,518,660 12,402,600 8,956,257 10,396,988 1,731,886 1,485,162 1,592,429
Value in million 812.76 777.47 680.51 463.35 455.79 378.24 368.07 345.28 341.19 332.51
% of total turnover 4.44 4.25 3.72 2.53 2.49 2.07 2.01 1.89 1.87 1.82
Weekly closing 68.20 75.80 71.00 36.80 36.60 43.00 36.40 202.40 236.80 208.70
Price change 7.23 6.61 8.23 -0.27 -2.14 8.31 8.66 3.21 6.00 1.16
Weekly opening 63.60 71.10 65.60 36.90 37.40 39.70 33.50 196.10 223.40 206.30
Weekly high 69.20 76.80 73.00 38.00 38.20 44.10 37.50 203.00 238.50 212.90
Weekly low 58.00 65.20 61.00 33.20 36.10 36.00 30.50 183.00 212.00 198.00
Weekly average 67.91 75.39 71.46 37.13 36.72 43.49 36.42 201.84 234.38 210.09
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
Volume shares 3,633,000 1,446,004 2,714,699 1,293,000 985,500 718,290 2,778,643 1,251,940 717,960 1,315,091
Value in million 133.64 97.32 95.71 68.49 68.20 53.12 46.84 46.56 44.86 39.92
% of total turnover 7.26 5.29 5.20 3.72 3.71 2.89 2.54 2.53 2.44 2.17
Weekly closing 36.60 68.10 36.40 55.50 70.90 76.00 17.10 37.00 62.70 30.90
Price change -1.35 7.24 8.66 5.92 7.75 7.19 1.79 -0.27 3.98 5.82
Weekly opening 37.10 63.50 33.50 52.40 65.80 70.90 16.80 37.10 60.30 29.20
Weekly high 38.20 69.50 37.00 56.00 72.70 77.90 17.30 38.10 64.50 32.50
Weekly low 36.20 64.00 33.00 51.50 65.60 70.00 16.40 35.90 59.60 28.30
Weekly average 36.77 68.04 36.38 54.44 71.45 75.54 17.10 37.24 63.03 31.30
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
n Reuters
With automakers demand for aluminum growing explosively as they seek to improve fuel efficiency, aluminum providers are selling out their automotive capacity almost as fast as they can build new plants, raising the question of whether some car makers could be caught short in the future. The US market for aluminum sheet is expected to be up fivefold this year from 2012 with the development of vehicles like Ford Motor Cos next generation F-150 full-size pickup truck, a more aluminum intensive model that will be shown Monday at the Detroit auto show. Demand is expected to continue its surge as automakers look to slash vehicle weights to boost fuel efficiency, industry executives and analysts said. The one thing that has proven itself to be accurate is that any forward forecast of the use of aluminum in automotive will change upward, Phil Martens, chief executive of aluminum provider Novelis Inc, said in a telephone interview. The US market for aluminum sheet, which stood at less than 200m pounds in 2012, is expected to hit 1bn pounds this year, and then double from there by 2020 and reach 3.2bn to 6.4bn pounds by 2025, according to independent industry analyst Lloyd OCarroll. Other vehicles using a lot of aluminum include Land Rovers Range Rover SUV, Volkswagens Audi A8 sedan, Daimlers Mercedes Benz CLA sedan, General Motors Cos Chevrolet Corvette sports car and Tesla Motors Incs Model S electric sedan. Novelis, along with Alcoa Inc, dominates the US aluminum market, a trend that should continue for the time being as both companies pour hundreds of millions of dollars into expanding capacity to meet demand. Analysts and industry officials said
B3
We want a speedy but highly transparent process and we are expect to furnish all the deals this year
Pakistan last month received a second payment under a $6.7bn International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan package, conditions for which included action to privatise state-owned businesses. Among the offerings will be shares in the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), Pakistans top hydrocarbon exploration and development concern. OGDCL shares have been traded on the London stock exchange since 2006 and the government now wants to sell off more of its stake in the company. We will wait the financial advisers to make the privatisation strategy but I personally want to offload 10% ... of OGDC at the global capital market, Mohammad Zubair, the chief of the Privatisation Commission, told AFP. The state holds about 75% shares in the OGDCL, after already offloading a 25% stake. Arif Habib Securities, a Karachi-based brokerage and financial research company, estimates the OGDCL
An aluminium wheel is pictured at the stand of German car manufacturer VW at the Frankfurt Motor Show REUTERS growth in the United States is exponential because consumers preference for bigger engines and larger vehicles at a time of rising fuel economy requirements and lower emission standards has forced automakers to push for greater weight reductions in their vehicle designs than they can get from high-strength steel alone. If you really want to save a lot of weight, like on a pickup truck, you really have to go with something lighter than steel to take 700 pounds out, said Dick Schultz, managing director of the auto practice at research firm Ducker Worldwide. US government standards mandate that by 2025, automakers must increase corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) to 54.5 miles per gallon, up from 35.5 mpg by 2016. The key question is whether the industry can keep up with demand, industry officials and analysts said. If not, some automotive customers could be caught short, lacking sufficient aluminum for their next-generation of lighter-weight cars and trucks. Aluminum executives said they need two to three years advance notice to meet demand to give them enough time to expand existing plants or build new ones. If automakers do not effectively communicate their needs, shortages could develop, analysts and industry officials said. You could have pinch points develop if all of a sudden the auto industry rolls out a set of designs that are heavy in aluminum, if this transformation that we see taking place gradually occurs more quickly, said John Mothersole, director of research for the pricing and purchasing service at IHS. Nevertheless, Mothersole and others do not see it becoming a long-term problem. If the automakers make the decisions quickly, then it will work. If the automakers delay the decisions too long, then some could have issues, said Pierre Vareille, CEO of Dutch aluminum products maker Constellium NV, which intends to announce its
Homes become members of the family with smart parts n AFP, Las Vegas
Appliances are becoming part of the family, weighing in with insights while helping with chores from cooking to doing laundry. Home networks that allowed household items such as lamps, thermostats and locks get smart with Internet connections and computing power were among trends gaining steam at the Consumer Electronics Show that ends here Friday. South Korean home appliance titans LG and Samsung weighed in with systems to let people communicate with household equipment. We are texting friends and family throughout the day. Why not do the same thing with your air conditioning system or your vacuum? LG national product trainer Randy Overton asked at the companys booth on the CES show floor. You can have your refrigerator tell you what is in it or your kitchen range text you when a roast is almost done. LG unveiled a HomeChat system that lets people fire off text messages to appliances in natural language and then get responses couched in slightly playful attitude. Its about keeping in touch, and making it a little more fun too, Overton said. That is what technology is all about. LG devices that can synch to the network include a washer, stove, refrigerator and a robotic vacuum. The refrigerator can text its owner when food is a day or so from spoiling, or respond to queries such as How much beer is left? HomeChat gives you the experience of talking to appliances around you, said LG chief technology officer Skott Ahn. The refrigerator has a library of recipes to help figure out ways to prepare what is inside. Keeping track of food requires entering data into the refrigerator as items are added or removed. Samsung Electronics introduce Smart Home, a service for managing its smart TVs, home appliances and smartphones. The service is due to roll out across Samsung devices in the first half of this year. We are bringing our capabilities as the worlds number one manufacturer of smart devices to make the connected home a reality for consumers today, said Samsung media solutions center president Wonpyo Hong. The system integrates Samsung smartphones, appliances, cameras and even Galaxy Gear smart watches, according to the consumer electronics powerhouse. l
REUTERS
B4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Career
Based on Gardner's model and adapted from businessballs.com Score the following statements: 1 = Mostly Disagree, 2 = Slightly Disagree, 3 = Slightly Agree, 4 = Mostly Agree
Score the statements in the white-out boxes only I like to learn more about myself I can play a musical instrument I find it easiest to solve problems when I am doing something physical I often have a song or piece of music in my head I find budgeting and managing my money easy I find it easy to make up stories I have always been physically well co-ordinated When talking to someone, I tend to listen to the words they use not just what they mean I enjoy crosswords, word searches or other word puzzles I dont like ambiguity, I like things to be clear I enjoy logic puzzles such as 'sudoku' I like to meditate Music is very important to me I am a convincing liar I play a sport or dance I am very interested in psychometrics (personality testing) and IQ tests People behaving irrationally annoy me I find that the music that appeals to me is often based on how I feel emotionally I am a very social person and like being with other people I like to be systematic and thorough I find graphs and charts easy to understand I can throw things well - darts, skimming pebbles, frisbees, etc I find it easy to remember quotes or phrases I can always recognise places that I have been before, even when I was very young I enjoy a wide variety of musical styles When I am concentrating I tend to doodle I could manipulate people if I choose to I can predict my feelings and behaviours in certain situations fairly accurately I find mental arithmetic easy I can identify most sounds without seeing what causes them At school one of my favourite subjects is / was English I like to think through a problem carefully, considering all the consequences I enjoy debates and discussions I love adrenaline sports and scary rides I enjoy individual sports best I care about how those around me feel My house is full of pictures and photographs I enjoy and am good at making things - I'm good with my hands I like having music on in the background I find it easy to remember telephone numbers I set myself goals and plans for the future I am a very tactile person I can tell easily whether someone likes me or dislikes me I can easily imagine how an object would look from another perspective I never use instructions for flat-pack furniture I find it easy to talk to new people To learn something new, I need to just get on and try it I often see clear images when I close my eyes I dont use my fingers when I count I often talk to myself out loud or in my head At school I loved / love music lessons When I am abroad, I find it easy to pick up the basics of another language I find ball games easy and enjoyable My favourite subject at school is / was maths I always know how I am feeling I am realistic about my strengths and weaknesses I keep a diary I am very aware of other peoples body language My favourite subject at school was / is art I find pleasure in reading I can read a map easily It upsets me to see someone cry and not be able to help I am good at solving disputes between others I have always dreamed of being a musician or singer I prefer team sports Singing makes me feel happy I never get lost when I am on my own in a new place If I am learning how to do something, I like to see drawings and diagrams of how it works I am happy spending time alone My friends always come to me for emotional support and advice n Add the scores or ticks in each column and write the total for each column in the boxes on the right. n Your highest scores indicate your natural strengths and potential - your natural intelligences. n There are no right or wrong answers. n We are most successful when we learn, develop and work in ways that make the best use of our natural intelligences. Focus on learning and work will be most rewarding for you. Intelligence type Linguistic Logical-Mathematical Musical Bodily-Kinesthetic Spatial-Visual Interpersonal Intrapersonal Intelligence type Linguistic Logical Mathematical Musical Career possibilities Writer, lawyer, journalist, trainer, English teacher, poet, linguist, translator, PR/media consultant, TV/radio presenter Scientist, engineer, accountant, statistician, researcher, analyst, banker, insurance broker, deal-maker, trouble-shooter, director Musician, composer, DJ, music producer, piano tuner, acoustic engineer, environment and noise advisor, voice coach Dancer, actor, athlete, soldier, fire-fighter, performance artiste, fisherman, driver, gardener, chef, acupuncturist, healer, adventurer Artist, designer, cartoonist, story-boarder, architect, photographer, sculptor, town-planner, visionary, inventor, engineer, cosmetics and beauty consultant Therapist, HR professional, mediator, leader, counselor, politician, educator, clergy, psychologist, teacher, doctor, healer, organiser, carer, advertising professional, coach, mentor Arguably anyone who is self-aware and involved in the process of changing personal thoughts, beliefs and behaviour in relation to their situation, other people, their purpose and aims Your totals Score
n Ahsan Sajid
IQ tests are not always a faithful reflection of a person. They work better for some people than for others simply because some people are better with words and logic, not because they are more intelligent. There are many such individuals at any workplace who are extremely good at what they do, but their IQ is possibly quite low because words and logic are not their strong suit.
Intelligence testing started in the late 19th century in Paris where Alfred Binet developed a test designed to identify children with special educational needs. His approach of measuring intelligence was rapidly adapted across
the world and schools began testing children, designing their curriculum around the childrens IQ. Almost a century later in the 1970s, a Harvard professor of education, Howard Gardner questioned the traditional definition of intelligence on which the IQ test was based. He proposed that people had many other gifts and talents that werent reflected in the traditional ideals of intelligence. He created a model based on a variety of sources neurophysiological research, studies with autistic people, geniuses and protgs. In 1983, Howard Gardner published Frames of Mind, which suggested seven different types of intelligence linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, spatial-visual, interpersonal and intrapersonal. His mul-
tiple intelligences theory is a well-established model for understanding the many ways in which human intelligence works.
According to Gardner, his theory challenge[s] an educational system that assumes that everyone can learn the same materials in the same way and that a uniform, universal measure suffices to test student learning. Indeed, as currently constituted, our educational system is heavily biased toward linguistic modes of instruction and assessment and, to a somewhat lesser degree, toward logical-quantitative modes as well. He further argues that [a] contrasting set of assumptions is more likely to be educationally effective. Students
Linguistic: These learners are good at using words effectively. They have highly developed auditory skills and often think in words. They like reading, playing word games, making up poetry or stories. They can be taught by encouraging them to say and see words, read books together. LogicalMathematical: They are particularly proficient at reasoning and calculating; these learners think conceptually, abstractly and are able to see and explore patterns and relationships. They like to experiment, solve puzzles and ask questions. They feel a need to learn and form concepts before they can deal with details. Musical: These learners show sensitivity to rhythm and sound. They love music and are also sensitive to sounds in their environments. They may study better with music in the background. Bodilykinesthetic: They use the body effectively, like a dancer or a surgeon. These learners have a keen sense of body awareness. They like movement, making things by hand, touching etc. They communicate well through body language and can be taught through physical activity, hands-on learning, acting out, role playing etc. Spatial-visual: These learners think in terms of physical space, as do architects and sailors. They are very aware of their environments and like to draw, do jigsaw puzzles, read maps etc. They can be taught through drawings, verbal and physical imagery. Interpersonal: These learners are great at understanding and interacting with others. These students learn through interaction. They have many friends, empathy for others and street smarts. They can be taught through group activities, seminars, dialogues etc. Intrapersonal: These learners have a keen understanding their own interests and goals. They tend to shy away from others and are in tune with their inner feelings; they have wisdom, intuition and motivation, as well as a strong will, confidence and opinions. l
Encounter Stress
Anticipatory Stress
Anticipatory stress is stress that is experience concerning the future. It is often focused on a specific event, such as an upcoming public speaking engagement that one might have. However, anticipatory stress can also be indistinct and indeterminate, such as an overall sense of dread about the future, or a nagging sensation that something will go wrong. Because anticipatory stress is future based, to manage it one needs to start by recognising that the event one is dreading doesnt have to play out as imagined. This type of stress commonly results from a lack of confidence and can be countered by focusing on the present instead of dreading the future. Addressing fears directly can also lower ones stress.
Encounter stress is caused by people. You may not like a person, or a group of people, or you may feel unsafe around them whatever the reason, you experience this stress when they are around. Encounter stress can also occur if your role involves a lot of personal interactions with customers or clients, especially if those groups are
Music, sounds and rhythm Physical experience and movement, touch and feel Pictures, shapes, images
Bodily-Kinesthetic Spatial-Visual
Situational Stress
Time Stress
Time stress is experienced when one worries about time, or rather, the lack of it. Time stressors worry about the
One experiences situational stress when one is in a situation with little or no control over its outcome. Generally, its a situation that involves conflict, or a loss of acceptance in ones immediate peer group. For instance, making a mistake in front of a big team can cause situational stress. Situational stress is sudden and not anticipated. To manage situational stress better, one needs to learn to
Interpersonal
Intrapersonal