The probe body of International Crimes Tribunal (ICT), on Sunday, submitted formal charges against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Sobhan for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the Liberation War to the registrar’s office of the ICT. Advocate Sultan Mahmud Simon, on behalf of the prosecution, handed over the probe report to the tribunal’s registrar, Nasiruddin Mahmud. Advocate Zead Al Malum, advocate AKM Saiful Islam and advocate Noorjahan Mukta also represented the prosecution.
The probe team completed its inquiry into the alleged crimes of the Jamaat leader on September 12.The prosecution submitted formal charges against Sobhan on the basis of nine allegations involving crimes against humanity, Simon said. “We have also submitted documentary evidence along with the charges. The tribunal will set a date for hearing on the allegations,” he added. The probe body had begun an inquiry into Sobhan’s alleged crimes on April 15 last year and taken statements of as many as 43 witnesses, chief investigator Abdul Hannan Khan said. “We have found his involvement in nine crimes against humanity, including murder, genocide, abduction, confinement, torture, pillage and arson,” he added. Regarding the early life of Sobhan, Khan said the accused was born in 1936 in Sujanagar upazila of Pabna district. “Sobhan was the founder ameer of the Pabna unit of Jamaat-e-Islami.Monday, September 16, 2013
Be a Global Citizen
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Sumayea Zara, a first year student of Dhaka University, was thinking about how she could utilise her spare time after classes. As a first year student she has enough free time to do other things. But as a career conscious woman she believes in using her leisure time to do something productive. She has decided to learn French. She says that being a student of Education and Research, learning French will help her to get a scholarship for higher studies in France. Students who have a good command in French have better chances of getting such scholarships.
Many students like Sumayea think that besides English they should learn another continental language such as Spanish or French which has global acceptability as it will open up many doors in their career path.
Shazeeb Mohammed wants more than just a working proficiency in speaking a foreign language. He is interested in the literature and culture of foreign lands. He has already had a taste of German literature and Gothic culture presented by the Goethe Institute in Dhaka. Now he is immersed in Persian literature at the Iranian Cultural Centre. While studying literature he has completed the language courses to be better acquainted with the culture of Persia and Germany. So now he can speak in five languages- Bengali, English, German, Persian and Hindi.
In the near future he wants to study the literature of the Steppe and Tundra region. When asked how he would go about this he refers to the Russian Cultural Centre.
The growing number of people learning different languages is certainly intriguing. So which institutes offer these courses that will help our men and women become global citizens?
Many students like Sumayea think that besides English they should learn another continental language such as Spanish or French which has global acceptability as it will open up many doors in their career path.
Shazeeb Mohammed wants more than just a working proficiency in speaking a foreign language. He is interested in the literature and culture of foreign lands. He has already had a taste of German literature and Gothic culture presented by the Goethe Institute in Dhaka. Now he is immersed in Persian literature at the Iranian Cultural Centre. While studying literature he has completed the language courses to be better acquainted with the culture of Persia and Germany. So now he can speak in five languages- Bengali, English, German, Persian and Hindi.
In the near future he wants to study the literature of the Steppe and Tundra region. When asked how he would go about this he refers to the Russian Cultural Centre.
The growing number of people learning different languages is certainly intriguing. So which institutes offer these courses that will help our men and women become global citizens?
Alliance Française de Dhaka
The official hub of French Culture in Dhaka is Alliance Française de Dhaka. This institute has been working in Bangladesh since 1959. It is also referred as the French cultural centre as it is the centre of French cultural and artistic activities in Bangladesh. Like Sumayea, every year more than 5 500 students learn French at Alliance Française. It also organises courses and workshops on arts and culture. Each year around 2500 student enrol for these workshop courses.
French is both a working language and an official language for the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, and NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and the International Courts. So for the international job market a good command in French along with English will certainly enhance anyone’s résumé.
The main office of Alliance Française de Dhaka is located at 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, the very heart of the capital. It has two branches in Dhaka: one at Uttara and another at Gulshan. It has a branch at East Sholoshohor in Chittagong also to reach students outside Dhaka. Students are admitted to French courses in three age groups: children (9-11 years old), Teenagers (13-15 years old) and Adults (16 to onwards).
The language course has been categorised into two diploma standards. One is the DELF and another is the DALF. The DELF is actually for those who will learn French from the very beginning. So for these learners the DELF composed four gradual levels of A1, A2, B1, B2. After passing each level the students will gain particular skills on the French language. The DALF course is the course designed for more achieving the highest proficiency on French language.
DELF and DALF are official qualifications awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify the competency of candidates from outside France in the French language. So being expert in French language and literature is now just a matter of interest for Bangladeshis as all the resources are available in doorsteps.
Not only language courses but Alliance Française de Dhaka has been organising a wide range of cultural programmes round the year. The exhibition galleries are regularly displaying the work of arts from home and abroad. While experiencing the arts and studying for the language courses one can chat with mates with a quick bite and coffee in the spacious Café la Veranda. Alliance Française offers a wide range of language, art and cultural activities.
The official hub of French Culture in Dhaka is Alliance Française de Dhaka. This institute has been working in Bangladesh since 1959. It is also referred as the French cultural centre as it is the centre of French cultural and artistic activities in Bangladesh. Like Sumayea, every year more than 5 500 students learn French at Alliance Française. It also organises courses and workshops on arts and culture. Each year around 2500 student enrol for these workshop courses.
French is both a working language and an official language for the United Nations, the European Union, UNESCO, and NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and the International Courts. So for the international job market a good command in French along with English will certainly enhance anyone’s résumé.
The main office of Alliance Française de Dhaka is located at 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka, the very heart of the capital. It has two branches in Dhaka: one at Uttara and another at Gulshan. It has a branch at East Sholoshohor in Chittagong also to reach students outside Dhaka. Students are admitted to French courses in three age groups: children (9-11 years old), Teenagers (13-15 years old) and Adults (16 to onwards).
The language course has been categorised into two diploma standards. One is the DELF and another is the DALF. The DELF is actually for those who will learn French from the very beginning. So for these learners the DELF composed four gradual levels of A1, A2, B1, B2. After passing each level the students will gain particular skills on the French language. The DALF course is the course designed for more achieving the highest proficiency on French language.
DELF and DALF are official qualifications awarded by the French Ministry of Education to certify the competency of candidates from outside France in the French language. So being expert in French language and literature is now just a matter of interest for Bangladeshis as all the resources are available in doorsteps.
Not only language courses but Alliance Française de Dhaka has been organising a wide range of cultural programmes round the year. The exhibition galleries are regularly displaying the work of arts from home and abroad. While experiencing the arts and studying for the language courses one can chat with mates with a quick bite and coffee in the spacious Café la Veranda. Alliance Française offers a wide range of language, art and cultural activities.
Cultural Centre of Iran
If you want to explore the wonders of Islamic culture and arts the Iranian cultural centre is the place for you. Courses on Persian language, a huge collection of publications and rare manuscripts, scholarly experts on Persian language and culture have made this institute an intellectual centre on Islamic and Persian culture.
This cultural centre offers courses on Persian language of four levels. There are junior courses for the beginners and senior courses for the students having some basic knowledge on Persian language offered in the junior course. Diploma and higher diploma courses are designed to achieve the highest linguistic proficiency in Persian language.
Aroni Khan, a student of Persian said, “Those who are studying Persian language can achieve the proficiency of using the mother tongue of 110 million people worldwide”. The three major universities of Bangladesh namingly Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong offer Honours, Masters and PhD degrees on Persian language and literature. This cultural centre offer scholarships for higher studies on Persian language and literature for the students having outstanding results in the subject.
Persian literature is probably one of the world’s oldest and best-known literatures. It spans two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran, Iraq and Azerbaijan, as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language. Bangladeshi art and literature has also a great influence of Persian art and culture. The jewels of Persian literature such as Shahnama of Ferdousi, Masnavi of Rumi have attracted the scholars of all over the world.
These literary marvels of Asia can be explored here from the rich library of the centre. It also organises regular seminars on literary personalities such as Hafiz, Nazrul, Rumi and on prominent Islamic scholars and translation and tafseers of the holy Quran. Iranian cultural centre also publishes many rare literary works of the Islamic scholars. Recently they have published 15 books on Islamic topics which are available in the centre. Many of these books are authored specially for the young learners. This centre has already published a tri-lingual dictionary of Persian-Bengali-English language. It is going to publish a dictionary of Persian-Bengali dictionary dedicated for Bengali students.
This cultural centre is the nucleus for the literature fans like Shazeeb Mohammed. He often can be seen in the library absorbed in gaining knowledge about this rich culture. He says that learning Persian language has given him the chance to feel the philosophical beauty of these works of art. He can spend the rest of his life with Ferdousi, Rumi and Hafeez in this library.
Founded in the 1984 this cultural centre is playing a significant role in exchanging knowledge and culture with the developed Arab world. It is also helping the Bangladeshi universities in developing and updating the existing courses on Persian language and literature. The resources of this centre are playing a major role in popularizing the progressive practice of Islamic and oriental studies.
If you want to explore the wonders of Islamic culture and arts the Iranian cultural centre is the place for you. Courses on Persian language, a huge collection of publications and rare manuscripts, scholarly experts on Persian language and culture have made this institute an intellectual centre on Islamic and Persian culture.
This cultural centre offers courses on Persian language of four levels. There are junior courses for the beginners and senior courses for the students having some basic knowledge on Persian language offered in the junior course. Diploma and higher diploma courses are designed to achieve the highest linguistic proficiency in Persian language.
Aroni Khan, a student of Persian said, “Those who are studying Persian language can achieve the proficiency of using the mother tongue of 110 million people worldwide”. The three major universities of Bangladesh namingly Dhaka, Rajshahi and Chittagong offer Honours, Masters and PhD degrees on Persian language and literature. This cultural centre offer scholarships for higher studies on Persian language and literature for the students having outstanding results in the subject.
Persian literature is probably one of the world’s oldest and best-known literatures. It spans two-and-a-half millennia. Its sources have been within historical Persia including present-day Iran, Iraq and Azerbaijan, as well as regions of Central Asia where the Persian language has historically been the national language. Bangladeshi art and literature has also a great influence of Persian art and culture. The jewels of Persian literature such as Shahnama of Ferdousi, Masnavi of Rumi have attracted the scholars of all over the world.
These literary marvels of Asia can be explored here from the rich library of the centre. It also organises regular seminars on literary personalities such as Hafiz, Nazrul, Rumi and on prominent Islamic scholars and translation and tafseers of the holy Quran. Iranian cultural centre also publishes many rare literary works of the Islamic scholars. Recently they have published 15 books on Islamic topics which are available in the centre. Many of these books are authored specially for the young learners. This centre has already published a tri-lingual dictionary of Persian-Bengali-English language. It is going to publish a dictionary of Persian-Bengali dictionary dedicated for Bengali students.
This cultural centre is the nucleus for the literature fans like Shazeeb Mohammed. He often can be seen in the library absorbed in gaining knowledge about this rich culture. He says that learning Persian language has given him the chance to feel the philosophical beauty of these works of art. He can spend the rest of his life with Ferdousi, Rumi and Hafeez in this library.
Founded in the 1984 this cultural centre is playing a significant role in exchanging knowledge and culture with the developed Arab world. It is also helping the Bangladeshi universities in developing and updating the existing courses on Persian language and literature. The resources of this centre are playing a major role in popularizing the progressive practice of Islamic and oriental studies.
Goethe-Institut is famous for its Green Café.
Goethe- Institut
Shazia Kabir, a passionate learner of Goethe- Institut, referred to Goethe-Institut as the open source of knowledge on art and culture. In fact the Goethe-Institut, as the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, is not only presenting the multifaceted modern Germany to the world but it is also creating the foundation of open and free practices of all branches of knowledge. This non profit organisation has been working in Dhaka for 52 years creating a strong fan base of German art and culture.
Shazia Kabir, a passionate learner of Goethe- Institut, referred to Goethe-Institut as the open source of knowledge on art and culture. In fact the Goethe-Institut, as the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany, is not only presenting the multifaceted modern Germany to the world but it is also creating the foundation of open and free practices of all branches of knowledge. This non profit organisation has been working in Dhaka for 52 years creating a strong fan base of German art and culture.
Young learners studying at the library of Alliance Française.
The Institute has a very well structured course system on German language. Students can take extensive courses (2 classes per week) and intensive courses (4 classes per week) on German language according to their requirements. In these courses students will achieve proficiency in German language by completing courses of A to C level. A level course is the elementary, B is the independent and C is the mastery level (autonomous language ability). Students having outstanding performance in B2 level are awarded with scholarships for language courses in Germany.
Goethe-Institut also supervises German language courses in five secondary schools under the PASCH programme. The tagline of the programme is “Schools: Partners for the Future”. The Goethe-Institut supports the schools in different ways: it looks after them while introducing or developing German as a school subject. It offers teaching staff advanced methodological and didactic training and language courses, and equips schools with modern teaching, learning and cultural materials that are multimedia-compatible.
Besides offering German language courses this institute is also contributing to develop cultural collaboration. It regularly arranges German cultural programmes in the centre. It invites experts from Germany to conduct workshops on contemporary art and culture. It also arranges month long and weeklong cultural programmes such as Urban Youth Festival, Performance Art Exhibitions etc. These programmes incorporate film screening, dance, theatre, art exhibitions on related issues.
With an exquisite roof top café, a resourceful library and the Green Café this institute is really a utopia for the free thinkers and art lovers.
Goethe-Institut also supervises German language courses in five secondary schools under the PASCH programme. The tagline of the programme is “Schools: Partners for the Future”. The Goethe-Institut supports the schools in different ways: it looks after them while introducing or developing German as a school subject. It offers teaching staff advanced methodological and didactic training and language courses, and equips schools with modern teaching, learning and cultural materials that are multimedia-compatible.
Besides offering German language courses this institute is also contributing to develop cultural collaboration. It regularly arranges German cultural programmes in the centre. It invites experts from Germany to conduct workshops on contemporary art and culture. It also arranges month long and weeklong cultural programmes such as Urban Youth Festival, Performance Art Exhibitions etc. These programmes incorporate film screening, dance, theatre, art exhibitions on related issues.
With an exquisite roof top café, a resourceful library and the Green Café this institute is really a utopia for the free thinkers and art lovers.
(Left)The entrance of the Russian Cultural Centre. (Right) Cultural Centre of Iran at Dhanmondi, Dhaka.
Russian Cultural Centre
The Russian Cultural Centre is another place of interest among the progressive and conscious youth of our country. Russia has been a development partner of Bangladesh from the early liberation period. Many of us can still remember the amazing Bengali books of fairy tales published by the Raduga Publishers and sent to Bangladesh as a gift for the children.
Russian Cultural Centre offers extensive courses on Russian. It offers beginner and junior level courses for the introductory level students. Diploma and higher diploma studies on Russian are also offered for further proficiency. Once they attain proficiency students are provided free counselling to apply for the higher studies in Russia. Many universities, professional academies and institutes, technical universities welcome Bangladeshi students with full and partial scholarships on the basis of their academic achievements.
The Centre also organises seminars and preparatory workshops for the students who are selected to study in Russia. Former students and scholarships winners are summoned to train up and inspire new students.
Besides all this the institute plays a significant role in promoting Russian literature and culture in Bangladesh. Its well furnished audio visual auditorium is famous for screening of rare and high quality Russian films. It also organises regular art exhibitions and cultural programmes performed by Russian artists. The library of the Russian Cultural Centre has many books on the rich literature of Russian and central Asian origin. The rare publications regarding the Russian revolution has made it a lucrative spot for the progressive minded. It also offers the subscription of prominent Russian dailies.
Russian Cultural Centre is one of the most prominent spots for intellectual discourses. Keeping in touch with this resource centre will give a student the opportunity to feel the culture of the largest country of the world.
Being multi -lingual and being conscious of world culture is the demand of this globalised world. So besides enjoying the freedom of university life students like Sumayea Zara and Shazeeb Mohammed should explore these cultural centres to enhance their skills and grab the opportunities on hand in the international arena.
The Russian Cultural Centre is another place of interest among the progressive and conscious youth of our country. Russia has been a development partner of Bangladesh from the early liberation period. Many of us can still remember the amazing Bengali books of fairy tales published by the Raduga Publishers and sent to Bangladesh as a gift for the children.
Russian Cultural Centre offers extensive courses on Russian. It offers beginner and junior level courses for the introductory level students. Diploma and higher diploma studies on Russian are also offered for further proficiency. Once they attain proficiency students are provided free counselling to apply for the higher studies in Russia. Many universities, professional academies and institutes, technical universities welcome Bangladeshi students with full and partial scholarships on the basis of their academic achievements.
The Centre also organises seminars and preparatory workshops for the students who are selected to study in Russia. Former students and scholarships winners are summoned to train up and inspire new students.
Besides all this the institute plays a significant role in promoting Russian literature and culture in Bangladesh. Its well furnished audio visual auditorium is famous for screening of rare and high quality Russian films. It also organises regular art exhibitions and cultural programmes performed by Russian artists. The library of the Russian Cultural Centre has many books on the rich literature of Russian and central Asian origin. The rare publications regarding the Russian revolution has made it a lucrative spot for the progressive minded. It also offers the subscription of prominent Russian dailies.
Russian Cultural Centre is one of the most prominent spots for intellectual discourses. Keeping in touch with this resource centre will give a student the opportunity to feel the culture of the largest country of the world.
Being multi -lingual and being conscious of world culture is the demand of this globalised world. So besides enjoying the freedom of university life students like Sumayea Zara and Shazeeb Mohammed should explore these cultural centres to enhance their skills and grab the opportunities on hand in the international arena.
One happy Goal made against Hunger
Every year, about 1.5 million children die of starvation across the whole world, according to World Hunger Statistics. Countless starve, while according to poverty.com, about 25,000 people starve to death every day.
Fortunately, many of us are privileged with money, food, shelter, education and entertainment. Sometimes, we get our desirables even before we ask. If we give it a little thought, there is a way of standing by the underprivileged — by loving and caring for them.
With all these beautiful thoughts, ‘Charity Right’ (a project by Mercy Mission) and ‘Born To Smile Initiative’ came forward with the idea of a daylong football tournament. Titled, “Goals Against Hunger – 2013”, the event raised funds for the needy by selling tickets and lunch packets.
“Goals Against Hunger – 2013” was held on September 7, 2013, at the Dhaka Army Museum field. The event kicked off at around 9am, opening with recitation from the Qur’an by Mohammad Mollah, one of the organisers of the event, followed by briefing for the day’s tournament.
The tournament was divided into two categories: No-Age-Limit and Under-Age-16, each having four stages (group stage, quarter finals, semi-finals and final).
To support this charity event, 24 teams participated in the tournament. The teams in the No-Age-Limit category were: Furious 3 Quarters FC, Jaago Foundation, Chachaz United, AISD Alumni, DASAU, Calcio FC, G & R, FC Bongz, Admin 43 FC, Seven Nation Army, DOHS United and Team Mid Life Crisis. In the Under-Age-16 category were: Nurturing Roots, Like A Boss, Legacies FC, Muffin Men, Islamic International School, Astefs FC, Jetstream, Coronation, Trail Braz, Bros Incorp., Zero GJ and JSK youth.
The sponsors and media partners were Mercy Mission, Jaago Foundation, Radio Foorti, Desh TV, Shoppers World, Rahimafrooz, The Daily Independent and Khadem Ceramics.At the end of the finals, the DOHS United team (from No-Age-Limit category) and the Like A Boss team (from Under-Age-16 category) were announced the champions. Seven Nation Army (from No-Age-Limit category) and GSK Youth (from Under-Age-16 category) were the runners-up of the tournament.
Fortunately, many of us are privileged with money, food, shelter, education and entertainment. Sometimes, we get our desirables even before we ask. If we give it a little thought, there is a way of standing by the underprivileged — by loving and caring for them.
With all these beautiful thoughts, ‘Charity Right’ (a project by Mercy Mission) and ‘Born To Smile Initiative’ came forward with the idea of a daylong football tournament. Titled, “Goals Against Hunger – 2013”, the event raised funds for the needy by selling tickets and lunch packets.
“Goals Against Hunger – 2013” was held on September 7, 2013, at the Dhaka Army Museum field. The event kicked off at around 9am, opening with recitation from the Qur’an by Mohammad Mollah, one of the organisers of the event, followed by briefing for the day’s tournament.
The tournament was divided into two categories: No-Age-Limit and Under-Age-16, each having four stages (group stage, quarter finals, semi-finals and final).
To support this charity event, 24 teams participated in the tournament. The teams in the No-Age-Limit category were: Furious 3 Quarters FC, Jaago Foundation, Chachaz United, AISD Alumni, DASAU, Calcio FC, G & R, FC Bongz, Admin 43 FC, Seven Nation Army, DOHS United and Team Mid Life Crisis. In the Under-Age-16 category were: Nurturing Roots, Like A Boss, Legacies FC, Muffin Men, Islamic International School, Astefs FC, Jetstream, Coronation, Trail Braz, Bros Incorp., Zero GJ and JSK youth.
The sponsors and media partners were Mercy Mission, Jaago Foundation, Radio Foorti, Desh TV, Shoppers World, Rahimafrooz, The Daily Independent and Khadem Ceramics.At the end of the finals, the DOHS United team (from No-Age-Limit category) and the Like A Boss team (from Under-Age-16 category) were announced the champions. Seven Nation Army (from No-Age-Limit category) and GSK Youth (from Under-Age-16 category) were the runners-up of the tournament.
Team spirit was so noticeably high that even the scorching sun could not put them down. The athletes’ passion for football, love for the destitute, and devotion to make real goals against hunger were so deep that their fatigue could not distract their minds from their objective to play.
“It was a pleasure playing in the tournament. I am really happy that the event was successful. We always look forward to help out those in need,” said Amit Hassan, a player from Seven Nation Army.
At the end of the day, no one really lost. The organisers aim to run the event every year. This tournament not only raised funds for hungry street children but has also re-instilled the spirit of football in the youth.
“It was a pleasure playing in the tournament. I am really happy that the event was successful. We always look forward to help out those in need,” said Amit Hassan, a player from Seven Nation Army.
At the end of the day, no one really lost. The organisers aim to run the event every year. This tournament not only raised funds for hungry street children but has also re-instilled the spirit of football in the youth.
Delhi lets Dhaka down
The monsoon session of Indian Lok Sabha has gone into recess on September 7. But the “Land Boundary Agreement” (LBA) of September 2011 could not be placed in Parliament for ratification.
Bangladesh was categorically assured by President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid that the LBA would be ratified during the monsoon session of Lok Sabha. The Bill could not even be introduced in Parliament because of noisy opposition from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) MPs. The opposition BJP also refused to support the UPA government on the LBA.
The other extremely important treaty which has gone into the backburner is the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement. This too is due to the opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Treaty was due to be signed during Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka visit in September 2011.
What is surprising is that the UPA government made every effort and succeeded in convincing the opposition BJP to help pass two key bills at the last session — National Food Security Bill and the Land Acquisition Bill. But when it came to the LBA with Bangladesh, there was no initiative from UPA leaders to explain to the opposition why this bill was important. The Bangladesh Foreign Minister was in Delhi last July to persuade BJP to support the bill. She met with Arun Jaitley, the BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha. Jaitley did not commit any support for the LBA bill.
The other incident which has deeply outraged Bangladesh is the BSF court acquitting constable Amiyo Ghosh, who killed Felani. Border killings by BSF go on unabated despite repeated assurance from highest levels in India that such killing shall stop. Now there are threats that BSF will deploy “drones” to monitor the border areas. The Foreign Ministry is dismissive about these developments.
One had hoped that the government would be able to resolve the major problems that bedevil Dhaka-Delhi relations. The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India in January 2010 and the Joint Communiqué had raised hopes that problems between the two neighbors would be resolved once and for all. There are several issues which, however, are viewed by the two capitals differently.
For Delhi the major issues are: a) security — eliminating insurgency in the North Eastern States. Bangladesh had been accused of giving sanctuary to separatist insurgents; b) Securing transshipment rights, from the Western parts of India to North Eastern States, through Bangladesh; c) Stop so-called illegal migration from Bangladesh.
From Dhaka’s point of view the major issues are: a) Water sharing of the common rivers; b) Trade concessions for access to Indian market; c) Land boundary demarcation and exchange of enclaves; d) Demarcation of maritime boundary with India in the Bay of Bengal.
For its part, Bangladesh has addressed two of the major concerns of India. Firstly, it has handed over ULFA Chairman Arvind Rajkhoa to India in January 2011. ULFA General Secretary Anup Chetia is currently awaiting extradition to India. Bangladesh and India have already signed an extradition treaty in January 2013 during the Indian Home Minister’s visit to Dhaka
Secondly, Bangladesh has also given India transshipment facilities through its territory. Bangladesh has allowed transshipment through Akhaura border of Over Dimensional Cargoes for the Palatana Power Project in Agartala. Last June, India also shipped 10,000 tons of food grains to Tripura from Kolkata through Chittagong port. Another 30,000 tons will pass through Bangladesh soon. While India was able to cut down the costs of transportation drastically using the Bangladesh route, Bangladesh had to spend considerable amount of money to upgrade the infrastructure at Akhaura to handle the Indian cargo.
Somehow India has not reciprocated the gestures shown by Bangladesh. Some naive Bangladesh leaders were hoping that Sheikh Hasina would visit Delhi this month, where she would sign the Teesta Treaty and return with the ratified LBA. That visit is now uncertain.
Why has Manmohan Singh failed to live up to his promises? One has to understand the mechanics of decision making in Delhi. The Congress-led UPA government is a coalition of several parties — some supporting it from within, some from without. It has only 222 seats altogether in the House of 543 seats. Simple majority requires 272, but Congress with 206 seats is constantly in a precarious position of being outvoted.
The decision making process in India has traditionally been dominated by the bureaucracy. On foreign policy matters the Ministry of External Affairs has the final say. It is hardly ever that the Prime Minister or External Affairs Minister will overrule decisions taken by the Ministry. Example: In July 2011, Manmohan Singh read out a Ministry — prepared document saying, “25% of Bangladeshis swear by Jamaitul Islami and they are very anti-Indian and they are in the clutches of the ISI”.
It appears that the relationship between the two countries was not handled by the two governments but by two parties — Congress in India and Awami League in Bangladesh. Congress has let down Awami League because Bangladesh Foreign Ministry failed miserably to understand the mechanics of decision making in Delhi.
Insurance against loss and damage
However, there are two differences that climate change can, and indeed will, bring to this traditional insurance business. The first is the fact that the frequency of severe weather events such as floods, cyclones and droughts will increase with climate change. This realisation is causing many insurance companies to stop offering such insurance policies. Thus, for example, many households in floodplain areas in the United Kingdom can no longer get flood insurance.
The second element that is now being explored in many parts of the world is called Index Based Insurance (IBI) which is quite different from traditional insurance.
In traditional insurance, after a severe weather event, such as a flood, cyclone or drought, the insurance company’s agents will assess the damage and authorise a payment after that assessment. This can often be a time consuming process as well as being open to dispute between the insurance agent’s estimate and that of the policy holder.
With IBI there is no such post-disaster loss estimation process. Instead, the insurance policy is based on a pre-determined weather based index or threshold which, when exceeded, will automatically trigger a payout to the policy holder.
Thus for example if the pre-determined threshold for flood insurance is ten days of river water level above a set level at an agreed location, then the policy holders get paid the full insured amount (without any questions) on the tenth day that the water level is above the pre-determined level.
IBI is now being used around the world for example for drought in parts of Africa and for hurricanes in the Caribbean as well as for floods in India.
In Bangladesh, until now there have been some very tentative attempts in the past which were not very successful. Despite that earlier lack of success some new initiatives are being piloted again. These include IBI against floods by OXFAM together with Progoti Insurance with reinsurance provided by Swiss Re. Other schemes are in the pipeline by a number of other agencies.
One of the biggest hurdles in successful IBI schemes is getting accurate and reliable data about the weather related hazards in order to devise a robust index or threshold for triggering the payment.
Another issue for IBI, especially for poorer farmers, is their inability to pay the premiums. This is a particularly contentious issue in the context of weather extremes caused by climate change where many feel that it is immoral to expect the poor farmers to pay premiums to insure them against weather disasters that were caused by the greenhouse gas emissions of the rich.
However, using IBI as a means of delivering payments efficiently and quickly to the victims of climatic disasters in poor countries may be an effective channel for the rich countries to pay for the insurance premiums for the poorer countries.
These issues will be part of the negotiations at the nineteenth Conference of Parties (COP19) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November in Warsaw, Poland under the loss and damage negotiating track where a possible international mechanism on loss and damage will be discussed.
The shifting stories of five years
ONE useful aspect of a grand old house in Europe or America was the weathervane. Stuck at the apex, it did not look very elegant, but its value was not measured by aesthetics. It gauged the direction of the wind in an age when nature had far more control over human affairs.
The British built the grand imperial cities of Kolkata, Madras, Mumbai, and, in the 20th century, New Delhi. But there were no weathervanes, possibly because nature is more predictable in India. When it rains it pours. When storms arrive, dark clouds swirl across the sky as advance battle formations. Delhi is not London, where you can perspire as you leave home, get caught in a chilly shower and return with a cold.
But what Delhi has lost in external sensors, it more than compensates through internal aerials. Human nature is the worry in Delhi, not nature. In that special patch of the capital which provides temporary housing to the various castes of the ruling class, every ear has a powerful antenna, constantly fine-tuned to pick up the waft and flow of that dramatic phenomenon called the political wind.
Delhi’s layers of power brokers have not survived the rise and fall of empires without an acute sense of homage to those on the ascendant, even when the possible has not become probable, let alone factual. A historian would do well to record how conversation has changed over the last five years in India’s august capital.
In 2009, Delhi could talk of nothing else but how Congress, and its presiding Gandhi family, would rule India for the next twenty years at the very least. It was up to Rahul Gandhi to decide when he wanted to become Prime Minister, a view echoed formally by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at a famous press conference that year. There was much admiration, in rotund phrases, for Rahul Gandhi’s choice of a waiting room as his preferred abode. A mild unease about corruption by the winter of 2010 did not much change the narrative; Rahul Gandhi’s team continued to be feted at dinners and wooed as high officials of the next durbar.
Then came Anna Hazare, with Baba Ramdev in tow. Heads wagged solemnly, but the wise had seen it all. This was one of those periodic blips that must inevitably interrupt a majestic procession. It would disappear, said all the ministers deputed to swat the fly, as quickly as it had come. Had no one heard about public memory? It was short, short, short. The smiles remained wide.
Then came the shock of UP elections in 2012. The script said Congress would declare victory if it won 80 seats [a number picked up from expensive opinion polls], and this would become the arch through which Rahul Gandhi could walk towards the Prime Minister’s chair. Defeat introduced the first shades of doubt.
Narendra Modi’s re-election in Gujarat later that year began to change the scenario. Paradoxically, Modi aroused both apprehension and hope. His political skills and governance record were powerful assets; could Congress turn the Gujarat riots into a polarising negative? And so hundreds of opinion pieces and news stories flooded media suggesting that BJP would defeat itself if it chose Modi as its mascot.
The BJP, however, heard the voice of its cadre, which lived on the street rather than Delhi’s warrens. Now that he is the party nominee for PM, to visible enthusiasm, Modi has one important thing left to worry about. So far he was surrounded only by supporters. Now he will be pursued by sycophants. That can be dangerous in a game where there continues to be many a slip between cup and lip.
Delhi is worried about Modi not because of his party, but because he is an outsider, shorn of the English-induced cultural or academic sophistications that Delhi’s elites expect from anyone audacious enough to demand their services. Modi served tea to customers in his brother’s teashop and his family remains linked to its roots. His English is unlikely to impress the Queen of England. But most of all, Delhi is anxious about his reputation for being tough. Delhi deals in compromise, not accountability, and no one really wants a bull rampaging through the expensive china that elites have accumulated over so many decades.
Delhi has handled outsiders before, at different levels of power. But they have mostly done Delhi the favour of proving incompetent. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the one outsider who could have changed the dynamic of this city, but he did not live long enough, and may have been scarred by the Tashkent agreement with Pakistan by then. So Delhi will resist Modi with one face, the private one, and beam with its other, public face.
It is going to be fascinating face-off for the six months left before elections.
The British built the grand imperial cities of Kolkata, Madras, Mumbai, and, in the 20th century, New Delhi. But there were no weathervanes, possibly because nature is more predictable in India. When it rains it pours. When storms arrive, dark clouds swirl across the sky as advance battle formations. Delhi is not London, where you can perspire as you leave home, get caught in a chilly shower and return with a cold.
But what Delhi has lost in external sensors, it more than compensates through internal aerials. Human nature is the worry in Delhi, not nature. In that special patch of the capital which provides temporary housing to the various castes of the ruling class, every ear has a powerful antenna, constantly fine-tuned to pick up the waft and flow of that dramatic phenomenon called the political wind.
Delhi’s layers of power brokers have not survived the rise and fall of empires without an acute sense of homage to those on the ascendant, even when the possible has not become probable, let alone factual. A historian would do well to record how conversation has changed over the last five years in India’s august capital.
In 2009, Delhi could talk of nothing else but how Congress, and its presiding Gandhi family, would rule India for the next twenty years at the very least. It was up to Rahul Gandhi to decide when he wanted to become Prime Minister, a view echoed formally by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at a famous press conference that year. There was much admiration, in rotund phrases, for Rahul Gandhi’s choice of a waiting room as his preferred abode. A mild unease about corruption by the winter of 2010 did not much change the narrative; Rahul Gandhi’s team continued to be feted at dinners and wooed as high officials of the next durbar.
Then came Anna Hazare, with Baba Ramdev in tow. Heads wagged solemnly, but the wise had seen it all. This was one of those periodic blips that must inevitably interrupt a majestic procession. It would disappear, said all the ministers deputed to swat the fly, as quickly as it had come. Had no one heard about public memory? It was short, short, short. The smiles remained wide.
Then came the shock of UP elections in 2012. The script said Congress would declare victory if it won 80 seats [a number picked up from expensive opinion polls], and this would become the arch through which Rahul Gandhi could walk towards the Prime Minister’s chair. Defeat introduced the first shades of doubt.
Narendra Modi’s re-election in Gujarat later that year began to change the scenario. Paradoxically, Modi aroused both apprehension and hope. His political skills and governance record were powerful assets; could Congress turn the Gujarat riots into a polarising negative? And so hundreds of opinion pieces and news stories flooded media suggesting that BJP would defeat itself if it chose Modi as its mascot.
The BJP, however, heard the voice of its cadre, which lived on the street rather than Delhi’s warrens. Now that he is the party nominee for PM, to visible enthusiasm, Modi has one important thing left to worry about. So far he was surrounded only by supporters. Now he will be pursued by sycophants. That can be dangerous in a game where there continues to be many a slip between cup and lip.
Delhi is worried about Modi not because of his party, but because he is an outsider, shorn of the English-induced cultural or academic sophistications that Delhi’s elites expect from anyone audacious enough to demand their services. Modi served tea to customers in his brother’s teashop and his family remains linked to its roots. His English is unlikely to impress the Queen of England. But most of all, Delhi is anxious about his reputation for being tough. Delhi deals in compromise, not accountability, and no one really wants a bull rampaging through the expensive china that elites have accumulated over so many decades.
Delhi has handled outsiders before, at different levels of power. But they have mostly done Delhi the favour of proving incompetent. Lal Bahadur Shastri was the one outsider who could have changed the dynamic of this city, but he did not live long enough, and may have been scarred by the Tashkent agreement with Pakistan by then. So Delhi will resist Modi with one face, the private one, and beam with its other, public face.
It is going to be fascinating face-off for the six months left before elections.
Felaini murder trial can be the beginning..
THE Indian Border Security Force (BSF) has decided to revise the Felani Khatun murder trial, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh told the media on September 13. This decision has come a week after a special BSF court had cleared the lone accused, Constable Amiya Ghosh, of the charge brought against him. It is worthwhile to note that a General Security Force Court (GSFC) that held the trial against the BSF jawan for allegedly killing Felani Khatun pronounced him not guilty on September 6.
It is no doubt a good piece of news for the bereaved family members of Felani. Her parents and relatives will naturally want to see justice done to their beloved child who became the victim of mindless act of shooting by a BSF member. Along with her parents and close relatives, near and dear ones of hundreds of other victims of BSF atrocities at the Bangladesh-India border will also wait with their fingers crossed to see that due process of law is finally started to bring to light what happened on the fateful day of January 7, 2011 at the Anantapur border point at Phulbari upazila in Kurigram. That is because the very recognition of the fact that what this hapless Bangladeshi girl was subjected to was unjust, inhuman and outrageous will also vindicate that other Bangladeshis who perished under similar circumstances at the Bangladesh-India border had also been victims of wanton killing.
The irony is that the credit, if any, for even considering that the case of Felani, only a single instance of a hundreds of other similar casualties of senseless brutality along the international border between Bangladesh and India, at least merits a compassionate look, goes not to the government of the country of which the victim was a citizen. On the contrary, it is the BSF, the alien organisation behind the killing of the Bangladeshi girl, has decided to take the matter seriously.
And what is commendable at this point about the case is that the issue of border killings is now being treated with some seriousness by either of the governments, an attitude that was lacking in the past.
Interestingly, after the GSFC’s judgment was disclosed, foreign minister Dipu Moni admitted to the press that it (Felani’s) was a tragic murder, adding that, her government had sought justice and would appeal against it if they did not get justice.
One would like to be reassured from our foreign minister’s statement. We say this because it appears to be a change of heart on the government’s part. For in the past, there were instances when government leaders would rather get annoyed if reports of any torture or killing of Bangladeshis by BSF members were brought to their notice. We may recall what LGRD minister Syed Ashraf ‘s view was on the issue. “The state is not too much concerned about it. It is not right that the state shall focus only on these issues, leaving aside all other businesses,” he told reporters on January 21, 2012 when they wanted to know from him if torture and killing of Bangladeshis at the border were provocative.
So we feel reassured that that the government’s attitude towards border killings has after all changed.
Felani appears to be the luckiest of all the ignored and forgotten Bangladeshis so far killed in BSF firings at the border. Through her death she has been able to vindicate the fact that what the BSF has been doing at the border in the name of containing trespassing of terrorists, smugglers and illegal immigrants into Indian territory is unjust, unfair and inhuman. Even if those people had committed a wrong of trespassing, they deserved to be punished through a legal process and not through the indiscriminate use of gun at a border between two friendly countries and who are not at war with each other.
The revised trial of the Felani murder case should pave the way for looking into a large number of other killings of Bangladeshis at the border in a similar light. Aghast at the unabated murder of their fellow people at the Bangladesh-India border, we want the government to come out of its lackadaisical attitude on the issue and take a proactive rather than a reactive response to such bloody border incidents in the future. In a similar vein, it is also expected that the government would place a list of all the cases of border killing till date to the Indian authorities yo seek justice for those victims. The ongoing Directors-General level BGB-BSF conference in Dhaka can well be used to start the process.
It is no doubt a good piece of news for the bereaved family members of Felani. Her parents and relatives will naturally want to see justice done to their beloved child who became the victim of mindless act of shooting by a BSF member. Along with her parents and close relatives, near and dear ones of hundreds of other victims of BSF atrocities at the Bangladesh-India border will also wait with their fingers crossed to see that due process of law is finally started to bring to light what happened on the fateful day of January 7, 2011 at the Anantapur border point at Phulbari upazila in Kurigram. That is because the very recognition of the fact that what this hapless Bangladeshi girl was subjected to was unjust, inhuman and outrageous will also vindicate that other Bangladeshis who perished under similar circumstances at the Bangladesh-India border had also been victims of wanton killing.
The irony is that the credit, if any, for even considering that the case of Felani, only a single instance of a hundreds of other similar casualties of senseless brutality along the international border between Bangladesh and India, at least merits a compassionate look, goes not to the government of the country of which the victim was a citizen. On the contrary, it is the BSF, the alien organisation behind the killing of the Bangladeshi girl, has decided to take the matter seriously.
And what is commendable at this point about the case is that the issue of border killings is now being treated with some seriousness by either of the governments, an attitude that was lacking in the past.
Interestingly, after the GSFC’s judgment was disclosed, foreign minister Dipu Moni admitted to the press that it (Felani’s) was a tragic murder, adding that, her government had sought justice and would appeal against it if they did not get justice.
One would like to be reassured from our foreign minister’s statement. We say this because it appears to be a change of heart on the government’s part. For in the past, there were instances when government leaders would rather get annoyed if reports of any torture or killing of Bangladeshis by BSF members were brought to their notice. We may recall what LGRD minister Syed Ashraf ‘s view was on the issue. “The state is not too much concerned about it. It is not right that the state shall focus only on these issues, leaving aside all other businesses,” he told reporters on January 21, 2012 when they wanted to know from him if torture and killing of Bangladeshis at the border were provocative.
So we feel reassured that that the government’s attitude towards border killings has after all changed.
Felani appears to be the luckiest of all the ignored and forgotten Bangladeshis so far killed in BSF firings at the border. Through her death she has been able to vindicate the fact that what the BSF has been doing at the border in the name of containing trespassing of terrorists, smugglers and illegal immigrants into Indian territory is unjust, unfair and inhuman. Even if those people had committed a wrong of trespassing, they deserved to be punished through a legal process and not through the indiscriminate use of gun at a border between two friendly countries and who are not at war with each other.
The revised trial of the Felani murder case should pave the way for looking into a large number of other killings of Bangladeshis at the border in a similar light. Aghast at the unabated murder of their fellow people at the Bangladesh-India border, we want the government to come out of its lackadaisical attitude on the issue and take a proactive rather than a reactive response to such bloody border incidents in the future. In a similar vein, it is also expected that the government would place a list of all the cases of border killing till date to the Indian authorities yo seek justice for those victims. The ongoing Directors-General level BGB-BSF conference in Dhaka can well be used to start the process.
Factory Survey
AFTER inordinate delay following the most serious factory disaster in the country, authorities have postponed inspection of factories which were supposed to start yesterday. The factory survey initiative involves the labour and employment ministry in collaboration with the ILO. The plan is to inspect 2,250 factories by 30 teams of experts led by Buet. However action plan or checklist for the survey is yet to be agreed upon by the stakeholders.
Three separate platforms Buet, IndustriALL and North American Alliance agreed to follow a common action plan and the global platforms were supposed to send a list of the factories they are to inspect. Sadly this has not happened.
It will be very unfortunate if this initiative queues up in the line of all the other important tasks to be accomplished which would ensure the safety of the factory workers including RMG workers. Bangladesh RMG sector continues to be a subject of discussion internationally, and national and international journalists and activists are working to keep the issue alive. But how long will these initiatives go on and will there be any concrete action from the government and international partners?
We cannot stress enough how important the factory surveys are, particularly for the RMG industry and for the nation. Any soft-pedaling on this matter may result in more accidents, deaths, scurrility and become further proof of incompetence. We hope that the survey starts without any further delay, and the grace period of 7-10 days are the last bit of postponing that happens in this process.
Three separate platforms Buet, IndustriALL and North American Alliance agreed to follow a common action plan and the global platforms were supposed to send a list of the factories they are to inspect. Sadly this has not happened.
It will be very unfortunate if this initiative queues up in the line of all the other important tasks to be accomplished which would ensure the safety of the factory workers including RMG workers. Bangladesh RMG sector continues to be a subject of discussion internationally, and national and international journalists and activists are working to keep the issue alive. But how long will these initiatives go on and will there be any concrete action from the government and international partners?
We cannot stress enough how important the factory surveys are, particularly for the RMG industry and for the nation. Any soft-pedaling on this matter may result in more accidents, deaths, scurrility and become further proof of incompetence. We hope that the survey starts without any further delay, and the grace period of 7-10 days are the last bit of postponing that happens in this process.
Tax fair begins today
A week-long tax fair begins today in all divisional cities as the National Board of Revenue has moved to take services to people’s doorsteps.
But in 54 district towns, the fair will take place for two days. Mobile trucks will be used at the three hilly districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban for one day. The fair ends on September 22.
In Dhaka, the NBR holds the fair at Officer’s Club at Bailey Road to provide services to taxpayers from 10am to 5pm every day, and they will be able to submit their income tax returns for 2013-14, the NBR said in a statement.
This is the fourth time the NBR holds a tax fair to motivate people to pay taxes by offering them one-stop services such as assisting filing of tax returns, and tax payment either manually or electronically.
This year the NBR focuses on online registration and re-registration for taxpayer identification numbers (TINs)—a step launched in July to establish an electronic payment system.
Online registration is also meant to clean NBR’s old database riddled with many fake and dormant TINs.
Taxpayers will also be able to register or re-register for TINs at the fair. There will be booths to assist people. The deadline for e-TIN registration will expire on December 31.
The NBR says it will have separate counters to assist senior, female, and disabled persons pay taxes. In addition to facilitating online payments, booths of Sonali and Janata banks will be at the fair premises to collect tax.
The showcase raked in Tk 831 crore from the divisional cities and 18 districts last year, which is double the previous year’s collection of Tk 414 crore during the fair.
The revenue authority received 97,867 tax returns at the fair last year, up from 62,272 the previous year. It also issued 16,287 new TINs in the 2012 fair, up from 10,041 the previous fair.
This year, NBR hopes to attract 5 lakh taxpayers and log Tk 1,100 crore in revenue.
But in 54 district towns, the fair will take place for two days. Mobile trucks will be used at the three hilly districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban for one day. The fair ends on September 22.
In Dhaka, the NBR holds the fair at Officer’s Club at Bailey Road to provide services to taxpayers from 10am to 5pm every day, and they will be able to submit their income tax returns for 2013-14, the NBR said in a statement.
This is the fourth time the NBR holds a tax fair to motivate people to pay taxes by offering them one-stop services such as assisting filing of tax returns, and tax payment either manually or electronically.
This year the NBR focuses on online registration and re-registration for taxpayer identification numbers (TINs)—a step launched in July to establish an electronic payment system.
Online registration is also meant to clean NBR’s old database riddled with many fake and dormant TINs.
Taxpayers will also be able to register or re-register for TINs at the fair. There will be booths to assist people. The deadline for e-TIN registration will expire on December 31.
The NBR says it will have separate counters to assist senior, female, and disabled persons pay taxes. In addition to facilitating online payments, booths of Sonali and Janata banks will be at the fair premises to collect tax.
The showcase raked in Tk 831 crore from the divisional cities and 18 districts last year, which is double the previous year’s collection of Tk 414 crore during the fair.
The revenue authority received 97,867 tax returns at the fair last year, up from 62,272 the previous year. It also issued 16,287 new TINs in the 2012 fair, up from 10,041 the previous fair.
This year, NBR hopes to attract 5 lakh taxpayers and log Tk 1,100 crore in revenue.
Bourses to become public limited companies soon
The Dhaka and Chittagong stock exchanges will turn into public limited companies with a huge paid-up capital once they get a regulatory approval for their demutualisation schemes within this month.
The paid-up capital of Dhaka Stock Exchange will be Tk 1,803.77 crore, consisting 180.37 crore ordinary shares of Tk 10 each.
The Chittagong bourse will have Tk 634.52 crore as its paid-up capital, which will be divided into 63.45 crore primary shares of Tk 10 each.
The authorised capital of Dhaka bourse will be Tk 2,500 crore, while the port city bourse will have Tk 1,000 crore, according to the demutualisation schemes submitted to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29.
After scrutiny, the stockmarket regulator will approve the demutualisation scheme within this month in line with the Demutualisation Act, 2013, which was passed in parliament on April 29 with a promise to bring transparency in the market.
The bourses are now non-profit cooperative organisations, owned by the exchange members who are usually stockbrokers. When the bourses will become public limited companies, the shareholders will get dividend at the end of a year.
The existing paid-up capital of the DSE is Tk 5 lakh, consisting 250 shares of Tk 2,000 each.
Once the DSE becomes a public limited company, each of its existing 250 members will get 72.15 lakh ordinary shares of Tk 10 each.
Each of the CSE members will get 42.87 lakh shares of Tk 10 each when it turns into a public limited company. The existing paid-up capital of the Chittagong bourse is Tk 4.40 crore, divided into 148 shares of Tk 3 lakh each. However, 60 percent shares of the DSE and CSE members will have to be transferred to “block accounts” for sale to strategic and other investors after the demutualisation.
The demutualisation will transform the stock exchanges into for-profit companies owned by shareholders, and ensure alternative business models and operational efficiency.
A demutualised bourse can also freely trade on the market like a public limited company.
The paid-up capital of Dhaka Stock Exchange will be Tk 1,803.77 crore, consisting 180.37 crore ordinary shares of Tk 10 each.
The Chittagong bourse will have Tk 634.52 crore as its paid-up capital, which will be divided into 63.45 crore primary shares of Tk 10 each.
The authorised capital of Dhaka bourse will be Tk 2,500 crore, while the port city bourse will have Tk 1,000 crore, according to the demutualisation schemes submitted to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29.
After scrutiny, the stockmarket regulator will approve the demutualisation scheme within this month in line with the Demutualisation Act, 2013, which was passed in parliament on April 29 with a promise to bring transparency in the market.
The bourses are now non-profit cooperative organisations, owned by the exchange members who are usually stockbrokers. When the bourses will become public limited companies, the shareholders will get dividend at the end of a year.
The existing paid-up capital of the DSE is Tk 5 lakh, consisting 250 shares of Tk 2,000 each.
Once the DSE becomes a public limited company, each of its existing 250 members will get 72.15 lakh ordinary shares of Tk 10 each.
Each of the CSE members will get 42.87 lakh shares of Tk 10 each when it turns into a public limited company. The existing paid-up capital of the Chittagong bourse is Tk 4.40 crore, divided into 148 shares of Tk 3 lakh each. However, 60 percent shares of the DSE and CSE members will have to be transferred to “block accounts” for sale to strategic and other investors after the demutualisation.
The demutualisation will transform the stock exchanges into for-profit companies owned by shareholders, and ensure alternative business models and operational efficiency.
A demutualised bourse can also freely trade on the market like a public limited company.
Banks’ net profits slump 40pc
The banks made a net profit of Tk 7,520 crore in 2011.
However, the banks’ operating profit rose by 5.6 percent to Tk 19,730 crore in 2012 compared to a year ago.
Increased provisioning is expanding the capital base of the banks, which will brighten their image to their foreign counterparts, BB Governor Atiur Rahman said while launching the Financial Stability Report 2012 at his office.
Chief executives of banks and other financial institutions were present.
The report said the capital market is still going through price correction amid a dearth of confidence among the participants.
On the weakness of the banking sector, the report said some financial soundness indicators, such as profitability, capital adequacy ratio, and non-performing loans ratio, recorded a slide.
Returns on asset and equity dropped in line with a fall in the net profit, the report added.
“The decline in aggregate profitability was widespread throughout the system, partly due to additional provisions for the stricter loan-loss provision regulations adopted in 2012 by the BB.”
The governor said the report would be helpful to the officials of the financial institutions in their efforts to improve the resilience in combating the adverse situations in local and international financial markets.
NBR salutes top taxpayers
The National Board of Revenue (NBR) yesterday recognised the country’s 403 highest and long-term taxpayers in a bid to encourage better compliance and boost income tax collections.
In Dhaka and other divisional cities, 263 taxpayers received crests at receptions organised by the revenue authority for fiscal 2012-13.Additionally, 20 companies and 20 individuals were given tax cards for fiscal 2010-11 and 2011-12 by Finance Minister AMA Muhith at an event at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka.
In Dhaka and other divisional cities, 263 taxpayers received crests at receptions organised by the revenue authority for fiscal 2012-13.Additionally, 20 companies and 20 individuals were given tax cards for fiscal 2010-11 and 2011-12 by Finance Minister AMA Muhith at an event at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka.
The NBR will also award 100 taxpayers from districts and city corporations for fiscal 2012-13 at the tax fair that begins today.
“This is a very good step, one that will encourage others to come forward to pay tax,” said Salahuddin Kasem Khan, managing director of AK Khan & Co Ltd, which secured its name among the top ten taxpayers for the third year running.
“A taxpayer-friendly attitude by the government will change the whole scenario.”
Four directors of the Chittagong-based company also secured positions on the list of highest individual taxpayers in fiscal 2011-12. Khan said payment of taxes by all would help the country become a middle-income country.
“We will all be benefited,” he said, while urging the government to develop adequate infrastructure, facilitate foreign direct investment, maintain industrial peace and provide policy support to encourage entrepreneurship.He also advised the NBR to take the tax fair, which it has been holding since 2010, to upazila level. This year, the tax fair will take place in all district towns, beginning today.
“This is a very good step, one that will encourage others to come forward to pay tax,” said Salahuddin Kasem Khan, managing director of AK Khan & Co Ltd, which secured its name among the top ten taxpayers for the third year running.
“A taxpayer-friendly attitude by the government will change the whole scenario.”
Four directors of the Chittagong-based company also secured positions on the list of highest individual taxpayers in fiscal 2011-12. Khan said payment of taxes by all would help the country become a middle-income country.
“We will all be benefited,” he said, while urging the government to develop adequate infrastructure, facilitate foreign direct investment, maintain industrial peace and provide policy support to encourage entrepreneurship.He also advised the NBR to take the tax fair, which it has been holding since 2010, to upazila level. This year, the tax fair will take place in all district towns, beginning today.
Muhith said the government tries to create a “taxpayer-friendly atmosphere” and reduce the taxpayers’ hassles.
“Introduction of the tax card is part of that effort.”
“By paying taxes one renders duties to the society,” Muhith said, adding that the government has revised laws and increased manpower of the NBR to boost income tax collection, now the second biggest source of revenue after value-added tax.
He said income tax collection soared more than 200 percent since fiscal year 2008-09 and the tax-GDP ratio also increased.
Ghulam Hussain, chairman of NBR, cited the introduction of online registration for taxpayer identification numbers (TINs) as an example of “lessening taxpayers’ hassles” that Muhith spoke of.
Online registration for TIN stood at 2.6 lakh since its launch in July. Of them, 55,000 are new taxpayers, he said.
“It means that there are many potential taxpayers in the country,” he said, while citing NBR’s estimate of 60 lakh potential taxpayers in the country against the 17 lakh TIN holders at present.Four directors of pharmaceuticals firm Drug International Ltd also appeared on the list of top individual taxpayers.“Four generations of us have been in business. Tax payment has become part of our family heritage,” said MA Haider Hussain, managing director of Drug International Ltd.“Tax payment is essential for the development of the country. One cannot live better without the betterment of others. Wealth has to be distributed among all—otherwise, we cannot ensure peace in society.”In the port city, 30 taxpayers from five districts in greater Chittagong and Chittagong City Corporation were honoured at a ceremony organised at the premises of NBR’s office in Chittagong.“Direct taxes like the income tax play a significant role in the development of the country,” said Afsarul Ameen, primary and mass education minister, who handed over the crests.He said the recent development activities undertaken in the port city and capital were funded by the taxes received by the government
“Introduction of the tax card is part of that effort.”
“By paying taxes one renders duties to the society,” Muhith said, adding that the government has revised laws and increased manpower of the NBR to boost income tax collection, now the second biggest source of revenue after value-added tax.
He said income tax collection soared more than 200 percent since fiscal year 2008-09 and the tax-GDP ratio also increased.
Ghulam Hussain, chairman of NBR, cited the introduction of online registration for taxpayer identification numbers (TINs) as an example of “lessening taxpayers’ hassles” that Muhith spoke of.
Online registration for TIN stood at 2.6 lakh since its launch in July. Of them, 55,000 are new taxpayers, he said.
“It means that there are many potential taxpayers in the country,” he said, while citing NBR’s estimate of 60 lakh potential taxpayers in the country against the 17 lakh TIN holders at present.Four directors of pharmaceuticals firm Drug International Ltd also appeared on the list of top individual taxpayers.“Four generations of us have been in business. Tax payment has become part of our family heritage,” said MA Haider Hussain, managing director of Drug International Ltd.“Tax payment is essential for the development of the country. One cannot live better without the betterment of others. Wealth has to be distributed among all—otherwise, we cannot ensure peace in society.”In the port city, 30 taxpayers from five districts in greater Chittagong and Chittagong City Corporation were honoured at a ceremony organised at the premises of NBR’s office in Chittagong.“Direct taxes like the income tax play a significant role in the development of the country,” said Afsarul Ameen, primary and mass education minister, who handed over the crests.He said the recent development activities undertaken in the port city and capital were funded by the taxes received by the government
.
JS observes int’l day of democracy
The Jatiya Sangsad yesterday held a discussion to observe International Day of Democracy amid a boycott by BNP-led opposition lawmakers.
The ruling Awami League-led lawmakers strongly criticised the Leader of Opposition
Khaleda Zia for not joining the House yesterday and also for raising the demand for a restoration of the caretaker government system.
Some of them blasted the US and the UK for what they said was the two countries’ attempts to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
More than a dozen lawmakers participated in the discussion that continued for nearly one and a half hours.
“Today is International Day of Democracy. But she [Khaleda] went to north Bengal [Rangpur] instead of joining parliament,” said AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta.
He said the next election would be held in line with the current constitution.
Ruling party lawmaker Abdul Matin Khasru said, “She has gone to Rangpur, dodging her parliamentary duties. It is contempt of parliament.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national parliaments, has been observing September 15 as the International Day of Democracy every year following the adoption of a resolution by the UN in 2007.
The day was first observed in 2008 but Bangladesh couldn’t observe it as an unelected caretaker government was in power at that time.
The Bangladesh parliament held a discussion on September 15, 2009 to observe the day without the participation of the BNP-led opposition lawmakers. However, no discussion was held in parliament to mark the day in the last four years.
Taking the floor on points of order before the discussion, three AL lawmakers defended the constitutional provision for holding the next general election without dissolving the current parliament.
AL lawmaker Tofail Ahmed said six elections were held for the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, after dissolution of the House while eight polls were held without dissolving parliament.
Suranjit criticised the proposal for forming an all-party polls-time government comprised of 10 members — five each from the ruling and the opposition parties — and making a non-partisan person the head of the government.
Ruling party lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim strongly opposed the idea of holding any discussion with opposition parties on the election-time government.
“There is no need for holding any discussion. The election will be held according to the current constitution,” he said.
Independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim expressed fears of political violence if the next election is not held with the participation of all major parties.
The ruling Awami League-led lawmakers strongly criticised the Leader of Opposition
Khaleda Zia for not joining the House yesterday and also for raising the demand for a restoration of the caretaker government system.
Some of them blasted the US and the UK for what they said was the two countries’ attempts to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs.
More than a dozen lawmakers participated in the discussion that continued for nearly one and a half hours.
“Today is International Day of Democracy. But she [Khaleda] went to north Bengal [Rangpur] instead of joining parliament,” said AL lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta.
He said the next election would be held in line with the current constitution.
Ruling party lawmaker Abdul Matin Khasru said, “She has gone to Rangpur, dodging her parliamentary duties. It is contempt of parliament.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national parliaments, has been observing September 15 as the International Day of Democracy every year following the adoption of a resolution by the UN in 2007.
The day was first observed in 2008 but Bangladesh couldn’t observe it as an unelected caretaker government was in power at that time.
The Bangladesh parliament held a discussion on September 15, 2009 to observe the day without the participation of the BNP-led opposition lawmakers. However, no discussion was held in parliament to mark the day in the last four years.
Taking the floor on points of order before the discussion, three AL lawmakers defended the constitutional provision for holding the next general election without dissolving the current parliament.
AL lawmaker Tofail Ahmed said six elections were held for the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Indian parliament, after dissolution of the House while eight polls were held without dissolving parliament.
Suranjit criticised the proposal for forming an all-party polls-time government comprised of 10 members — five each from the ruling and the opposition parties — and making a non-partisan person the head of the government.
Ruling party lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim strongly opposed the idea of holding any discussion with opposition parties on the election-time government.
“There is no need for holding any discussion. The election will be held according to the current constitution,” he said.
Independent lawmaker Fazlul Azim expressed fears of political violence if the next election is not held with the participation of all major parties.
Criminals kill Ctg trader
Only a day after the killing of a businessman in Chittagong city, another trader was brutally hacked to death by unidentified criminals in the port city early yesterday.
The dead is Tajul Islam, 32, a garment accessories businessman. He was a son of Mohammed Khalek in Mousumi Residential area under Pahartali Police Station in the city.
On Friday night, a businessman named Md Belal, 35, was stabbed to death and another injured in an attack by criminals in the city’s CDA Residential area.
Belal ran a container depot, SR Trading, at Pakka Rastar Matha in the city.
Shafiqul Islam, elder brother of Tajul, said his brother used to stock garment accessories and supply those to different garment factories based in Chittagong.
Tajul along with a man, who was unknown to his family members, went out of his house about 11:00pm on Saturday, and did not return home since then. They repeatedly called him over the phone, but it was found switched off, Shafiqul added.
A patrol team of police found the body of Tajul near Noya Bazar intersection under Pahartali Police Station about 3:00am early yesterday.
They took the body to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Morgue sources said the body bore several stab marks.
The dead is Tajul Islam, 32, a garment accessories businessman. He was a son of Mohammed Khalek in Mousumi Residential area under Pahartali Police Station in the city.
On Friday night, a businessman named Md Belal, 35, was stabbed to death and another injured in an attack by criminals in the city’s CDA Residential area.
Belal ran a container depot, SR Trading, at Pakka Rastar Matha in the city.
Shafiqul Islam, elder brother of Tajul, said his brother used to stock garment accessories and supply those to different garment factories based in Chittagong.
Tajul along with a man, who was unknown to his family members, went out of his house about 11:00pm on Saturday, and did not return home since then. They repeatedly called him over the phone, but it was found switched off, Shafiqul added.
A patrol team of police found the body of Tajul near Noya Bazar intersection under Pahartali Police Station about 3:00am early yesterday.
They took the body to Chittagong Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy.
Morgue sources said the body bore several stab marks.
Tender floated for Tk 7,000cr river training
The government yesterday floated a tender for river training in the Padma bridge project, the second largest component of the scheme.
The estimated cost of the component is nearly Tk 7,000 crore.
Six companies who had earlier qualified for the work can buy tender documents from September 22. The last date for submitting bids is November 25, Shafiqul Islam, director of the bridge project, told The Daily Star.
On June 26, the government invited tenders for the construction of the main part of the bridge and asked the pre-qualified firms to submit bids by September 9, which was later extended until November 4.
A Bangladesh-Malaysia joint venture company is constructing the approach road at Janjira point in the bridge area under a Tk 1,097 crore agreement.
To check river erosion at the point, a project of Tk 100 crore is being implemented. The government had to take this project in the face of continuous river erosion that threatened the construction site.
A Tk 250 crore tender has recently been floated for building the other approach road and a service area at Mawa point.
The government spent Tk 200 crore on preparing the bridge design and Tk 1,400 crore on rehabilitation and resettlement, which are at the final stage.
The government had planned to start the construction of a 6.15-kilometre rail-road bridge and complete major part of the bridge within its tenure. It could not be possible, however, as the donors cancelled funds over allegations of corruption in the project.
The estimated cost of the component is nearly Tk 7,000 crore.
Six companies who had earlier qualified for the work can buy tender documents from September 22. The last date for submitting bids is November 25, Shafiqul Islam, director of the bridge project, told The Daily Star.
On June 26, the government invited tenders for the construction of the main part of the bridge and asked the pre-qualified firms to submit bids by September 9, which was later extended until November 4.
A Bangladesh-Malaysia joint venture company is constructing the approach road at Janjira point in the bridge area under a Tk 1,097 crore agreement.
To check river erosion at the point, a project of Tk 100 crore is being implemented. The government had to take this project in the face of continuous river erosion that threatened the construction site.
A Tk 250 crore tender has recently been floated for building the other approach road and a service area at Mawa point.
The government spent Tk 200 crore on preparing the bridge design and Tk 1,400 crore on rehabilitation and resettlement, which are at the final stage.
The government had planned to start the construction of a 6.15-kilometre rail-road bridge and complete major part of the bridge within its tenure. It could not be possible, however, as the donors cancelled funds over allegations of corruption in the project.
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