Khokon gets HC bail

Star Online Report

Source: STAR

BNP Joint Secretary General AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon

The High Court today granted a six-month bail to BNP Joint Secretary General AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon in three separate cases including Bangla Motor arson attack case.
Following the HC order, there is no legal bar to Khokons release from jail, Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, a counsel for the BNP leader, told The Daily Star.The HC bench of Justice Borhan Uddin and KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order after holding hearing on three separate bail petitions in connection with the cases.Khokon also the secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association, filed the bail petitions through his lawyer yesterday.
The first case was filed for killing a police during a Hefajat-e Islam rally at Motijheel on May 5 while the second case for blasting crude bombs at Kamalapur during an opposition-sponsored demonstration on November 5. The third case was filed for an arson attack on a police requisitioned bus at Bangla Motor in the capital that left a police man killed on December 25 last year.

Shajahan passes away

Source: Star

Shawkat Momen Shajahan

Shawkat Momen Shajahan, Awami League lawmaker from Tangail-8Sakhipur-Basail constituency died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Sakhipur upazila of Tangail early today at the age of 64.
As he felt sick at his Sakhipur Bazar house around 5:30am, Shajahan was immediately rushed to the local upazila health complex where doctors declared hi brought dead family sources said.
Shajahan, the four times lawmaker, was president of AL Sakhipur upazila unit.
He was elected MP from the constituency in 19861999 by-election 2008 and 2014 uncontested on AL ticket.
The body of Shajahan will be flown to Dhaka by helicopter and his first namaz-eanaza will be held at South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
He will be laid to rest beside his father on the premises of Shakhipur Residential Women College.Shajahan left behind his wife, a son and a daughter as well as a host of relatives, colleagues, friends and admirers to mourn his death.
In his student life, Shajahan was vice-president VP of the Bangladesh Agriculture University Students Association AK in Mymensingh.

gunfight

Star Online Report

Source: Star

Tarique Mohammad Saiful Islam

The assistant secretary general of Meherpur district Jamaat-e-Islami was killed in a “gunfight” with police early today.
Victim Tarique Mohammad Saiful Islam, 35, was the eldest son of Samiruddin, former chief of Meherpur district Jamaat, reports our Kushtia correspondent.
Police arrested Saiful on Islami Bank premises in the district town around 3:00pm yesterday in connection with three cases filed against him, Reazul Islam, officer-in-charge OC of Sadar Police Station, told The Daily Star.
The cases were filed for attacking police and felling trees in different times, the OC said.
During primary investigation Saiful confessed before police that MA Matin, Khulna divisional coordinator of Jamaat, will hold a clandestine meeting with his cohorts at Bandar village in the town around 3:00am today, the police official said.
On the basis of the information, a police team along with Saiful headed for Bandar village, he said.   
As soon as the police team reached the area, the associates of Matin opened fire on the law enforcers, forcing them to retaliate that led to the gunfight
During the gunfight Saiful tried to escape the clutches of the law and came in line of fire.After thegunfight police found his blood-stained body lying on the ground, the OC added.One firearm, five crude bombs and six bullets were recovered from the scene, OC Islam added.

member squad

Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB today announced a 14member squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka to be held at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka on January 27.Faruk Ahmed, chief selector of the board, announced the squad at BCB media conference room in Mirpur this morning.The squad is: Mushfiqur Rahim captain and wk Tamim Iqbal, Sakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Mominul Haque, Shamsur Rahman, Mahmudullah Riyad, Imrul Kayes, Abdur Razzaq, Sohag Gazi, Robiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Alamin Hossain and Marshall Ayub.Sri Lanka will play two Test matches against the hosts in the series, followed by two T20 internationals and three one day internationals.f picked for the match, Shamsur Rahman will make his debut as the 71st Test cricketer from Bangladesh.Batsman Imrul Kayes, on the other hand, returns to the team after a two-year break, having last played against West Indies in Dhaka in November 2011.make way for the duo, Naeem Islam and Anamul Haque Bijoy were dropped from the team.

3 TTP militants held in Dhaka

Star Online Report

Detectives arrested three Pakistani militants and seized a laptop containing bomb making information from their possession at Segunbagicha in the capital last night.
The detainees are members of banned militant outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of Detective Branch of police, at a press briefing at DB headquarters on Minto Road in the capital.
Detectives arersted the three from in front of Shilpakala Academy around 11:30pm, Abu Yusuf assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police DMPMedia Wing confirmed The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, Rapid Action Battalion personnel detained four people with 2,400 yaba tablets and Tk 2 lakh during separate drives in night at Mohammadpur, Rampura and Kalabagan areas of the capital.

No EU plan to scrap GSP

Envoy makes it clear the duty-free facility has nothing to do with politics

Staff Correspondent

The European Union has no plan to cancel the GSP facility for Bangladesh at the moment.
Currently, Bangladesh benefits from the most favourable trade condition under the Generalised System of Preferences, as no tariff is imposed on the country's products entering the 28-nation bloc, EU Ambassador in Dhaka William Hanna said yesterday.
"That continues to be the case, and we are not considering any trade measure at this stage," he told reporters at his office in the capital.
His comment comes amid news reports that the EU might reconsider the GSP benefit for Bangladesh following the January 5 election boycotted by the BNP.
The EU is Bangladesh's biggest export market, and about half the country's more than $27 billion exports went to Europe in the last fiscal year despite the downturn in the continent.
Following the general election, where the EU did not send any observers, its high representative for foreign affairs Catherine Ashton released a statement on the one-sided polls. Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution on the political developments in Bangladesh.
"Neither document mentioned the question of trade. So we are not considering any change to the GSP at the moment," said Hanna.
Before reconsidering the GSP, he added, the EU would probably review the progresses Bangladesh made in meeting its commitments to improve labour and factory conditions in the next couple of months.
"We will have to sit down with the government to see where we are."
The government signed a tripartite agreement -- called the Sustainability Compact -- with the International Labour Organisation and the EU in Geneva last July after the collapse of Rana Plaza building, which killed at least 1,132 people, mostly garment workers.
Earlier in June last year, the US scrapped the GSP benefit for Bangladesh over factory safety and poor working condition.
But according to Hanna, there has been progress in some areas and there are some areas that need to be improved.
Bangladesh should specifically speed up its recruitment process for new inspectors and set up the database for factories, he said.
"The recruitment of inspectors is not as quick as expected as committed in the agreement. The database of information about factories has not yet been properly set up."
Hanna said the GSP was important for Bangladesh as well as for Europe. "We want to continue to source from Bangladesh. And our companies are interested in continuing to invest."
The envoy mentioned that both the statement and the resolution had called on the Awami League and the BNP to enter into dialogues and have an agreement, which would be the way forward for elections.
He said the EU had always maintained that elections should have three characteristics: transparency, inclusiveness and credibility. "That is our position at the moment."
Asked if the EU was supporting the government given it had yet to send any official greetings to the new administration, he replied indirectly: "I don't think that it is a question of supporting the government.
“I was at the swearing-in ceremony. I greeted everyone there. We have a long relationship with Bangladesh and we have been involved in assisting its development for a long while."
Although the trade relations have become a key one over the decades replacing aid, the bedrock of the EU operation remains the same: to support democracy and human rights, he said.
"On those questions, we have expressed our concerns and we hope that there will be improvement in those areas."
He also said the attacks on Hindus should be investigated and the due process of law should prevail.
Hanna asserted the development cooperation between Bangladesh and the EU would also continue like before. The EU is now discussing its development cycle for Bangladesh for the next seven years, starting this year.
The core areas of development assistance such as education and skills, food security, nutrition and human rights and governance would remain unchanged, he added.

Khokon gets HC bail

Star Online Report

Source: STAR

BNP Joint Secretary General AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon

The High Court today granted a six-month bail to BNP Joint Secretary General AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon in three separate cases including Bangla Motor arson attack case.
Following the HC order, there is no legal bar to Khokon's release from jail, Barrister AKM Ehsanur Rahman, a counsel for the BNP leader, told The Daily Star.
The HC bench of Justice Borhan Uddin and KM Kamrul Kader came up with the order after holding hearing on three separate bail petitions in connection with the cases.
Khokon, also the secretary of Supreme Court Bar Association, filed the bail petitions through his lawyer yesterday.
The first case was filed for killing a police during a Hefajat-e Islam rally at Motijheel on May 5 while the second case for blasting crude bombs at Kamalapur during an opposition-sponsored demonstration on November 5. The third case was filed for an arson attack on a police requisitioned bus at Bangla Motor in the capital that left a police man killed on December 25 last year.

18 killed in Mumbai stampede

w

At least 18 people were killed in a stampede that broke out on early Saturday near the Malabar Hill residence of Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who died on Friday morni officials said.
According to police and BMC disaster control officials, the stampede took place around 1:30am, reports the Times of India.Thousands of community mourners converged near Saifee Mahal, where the Syedna's body was kept for people to pay their last respects
The cause of the sudden stampede is not clear, but officials said at least 17 bodies were taken to Saifee Hospital and one to Cumballa Hill Hospital, the Indian daily said.
At least 20 people, who suffred injuries, were treated and allowed to go while another three have been admitted for treatment, BMC disaster control said
Syedna Mammed Burhanuddin, spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohra community died following cardiac arrest on Friday, an official said.
He was 102 and his funeral is scheduled later on Satday morning in Bhendi Bazaarsouth Mumbai.

Upazila polls next target

After JS polls, AL eyes crucial local govt bodies to have stronger base at grassroots

Shakhawat Liton and Hasan Jahid Tusher The ruling Awami League now focuses on the upcoming upazila elections to consolidate its grip on local politics, through winning these key local bodies.
Party insiders say the newly formed government has some shortcomings and it needs full support of the upazila parishads to overcome some of those.
According to them, the government will strengthen the upazila parishads "in real sense" in light of its electoral pledges. And to implement its political and development agendas at the local levels, the government needs its own people at the helm of the upazila parishads.
The Election Commission plans to hold polls to more than 480 upazilas in phases from next month. It may announce the schedule on Sunday or anytime this week for holding polls to over 100 upazila parishads to start with.
"The BNP may take the upazila elections seriously in efforts to bounce back, after its failure to resist the parliamentary election. So, we will try to maintain strict party discipline to make sure that dissidents do not run against the party-backed candidates," an AL presidium member told The Daily Star yesterday.
The presidium member, who is also an influential minister, said they would request party chief Sheikh Hasina to take steps in this regard.
Contacted, Matia Chowdhury, another AL presidium member, said they pledged in their manifesto to strengthen the upazila parishads.
"We will do it this time. We will take necessary measures so that upazila parishads can offer better services to people," said Matia, also the agriculture minister.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has already instructed some grassroots leaders, particularly those who were not picked for the January 5 national election, to get ready for the upazila election, insiders said.
Upazila elections are non-partisan in nature. So, the AL will back leaders who have clean image and public support to secure victory, said Mahbubul Alam Hanif, AL joint general secretary.

Delink with Jamaat

European Parliament urges BNP, says parties that turned to terrorist act should be banned

Diplomatic Correspondent The European Parliament has urged the BNP to cut ties with Jamaat and Hefajat and firmly said the political parties associated with “terrorist acts” in Bangladesh should be banned.
“[The European Parliament] urges the BNP to unequivocally distance itself from Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefajat-e Islam”, according to a resolution adopted at its debate chamber in Strasbourg, France, on Thursday.
Pointing finger at Jamaat, the EP stressed “parties which turn to terrorist acts should be banned”.
It acknowledged that the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has played an important role in providing redress and closure for victims of and those affected by the Bangladeshi war of independence.
The resolution, which was put forward by six political groups on recent elections in Bangladesh, observed that “The opposition BNP is continuing to cooperate with Jamaat-e-Islami and the splinter group Hefajat-e Islam, which are regarded as the main instigators of the violence.”
Immediately after the pronouncement of a verdict on February 28 last year sentencing Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee to death on war crimes charges, Jamaat-Shibir activists had unleashed unprecedented violence in many parts of the country.
In the violent protest that continued for more than a week, armed cadres of Jamaat-Shibir clashed with law enforcers leaving more than 70 people, including eight policemen, dead.
Jamaat-Shibir men continued their violent activities round the year. And after the announcement of the election schedule on November 25, they again unleashed violence to enforce the BNP-led alliance's hartal and blockades to resist the January 5 election. More than 140 people were killed in the violence in around la

Syria proposes prisoner exchange

BBC Online

Muallem and Lavrov were meeting ahead of the Geneva II conference

Syria's foreign minister has said Damascus is ready to offer a prisoner exchange with rebels.
Speaking in Moscow, Walid Muallem also said he had presented a ceasefire plan for the second city Aleppo to his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
The moves came as the opposition Syrian National Coalition meets in Istanbul to decide whether to go to next week's peace conference.
The coalition is under Western pressure to participate in the Geneva II talks.
However, many of its members have already pulled out.
Some are reluctant to go unless President Bashar al-Assad is excluded from any transitional government, but Damascus says there should be no pre-conditions for the talks.
Meanwhile Lebanese security officials said rockets fired from Syria had hit the Lebanese border town of Arsal, killing at least seven people, among them several children, and injuring at least 15.
Arsal, in the Bekaa valley, is predominantly Sunni and its residents have been broadly supportive of the Sunni-dominated uprising against President Assad, whose Alawite sect is an offshoot of Shia Islam.
The town has been flooded with refugees since the Syrian military launched an offensive nearby in November.
The three-year conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
An estimated two million people have fled the country and s

hanges to the act

Law under scrutiny for lifelong security

War Crimes Witnesses

Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary Against the backdrop of recurring attacks on witnesses and others involved in the war crimes trials, the investigation agency has proposed amending the relevant law to provide them with lifelong security.
On December 30 last year, the investigation agency that has been tasked with witnesses' security asked the home ministry to incorporate two provisions into the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act, 1973.
It proposed that witnesses, victims, judges and officials of the tribunals, members of the prosecution and investigation agency and their families be entitled to physical protection for rest of their lives.
To ensure the wellbeing of the witnesses, it proposed that the witnesses, victims and their families be entitled to and eligible for the benefits as provided by the state for freedom fighters.
Shawkat Mostafa, additional secretary of the home ministry, told The Daily Star on Thursday that his ministry had recently forwarded the investigation agency's proposals to the law ministry.
"The law ministry will take necessary measures upon analysing [the proposals] and holding meeting(s) with the stakeholders," he added.
Sanaul Huq, a senior member of the agency, on Thursday told The Daily Star that they had held a meeting with home ministry officials about a week ago where the officials agreed to bring changes to the war crimes act.
Law Minister Anisul Huq told The Daily Star yesterday that he was yet to get the proposals. “This [the issue of security of witnesses and others involved in the trial] is very important. After receiving [the proposals] I will talk to those who submitted the proposals and also the officials at the home ministry,” he said.
Since the beginning of the long-awaited trial around four years ago, different quarters have been demanding that the government enact a law to protect the witnesses and the people involved in the trial, but to no avail.
The demand grew stronger after a prosecution witness had been killed and attacks made on several other witnesses and houses of judges and prosecutors in the last few months.
Mostafa Hawlader, a witness in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee, was hacked in his Pirojpur home on December 8 last year. He succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital two days later.
Houses of two other prosecution witnesses -- Mahabubul Alam of Pirojpur and Ranjit Kumar Nath of Faridpur -- also came under attack on October 28 and December 15 respectively.
Besides, village homes of justices SK Sinha, ATM Fazle Kabir and Jahangir Hossain and Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arief Tipoo and Tureen Afroz came under attack during opposition enforced blockades in December last year. Jamaat and its student wing Shibir were allegedly behind the attacks.
On January 9, several prosecution witnesses in Sayedee's case urged the government to enact the witness protection law to ensure their long-term security. They also demanded financial assistance for the witnesses as making a living has become quite difficult for many of them due to fear of attacks.
Senior member of the war crimes investigation agency Sanaul Huq said the existing rules of procedure allowed the tribunal to direct the authorities concerned to ensure protection, privacy and wellbeing of a witness only during the trial stage.
"But the rules are silent about the protection of witnesses before and after they give their testimonies. That is why we have proposed the amendments," he said.
The International Crimes (Tribunals) Act was enacted in 1973 for trying the alleged war criminals of Bangladesh's Liberation War in 1971. Since 2009, the government has brought several changes to the act

Enigma, even in her death

Agen

Greta Garbo was born on September 1905 and died in 1990 at the age of 84.ut for almost ha a century before that, she was a recluse, choosing her life in seclusion as she famously remarked once - want to be let alone." She shot into fame in the 1920s and 1930s, never got married, yet linked to many men of her times.
The reference of Garbo always resurfaces whenever one thinks of India's own answer to her, Suchitra Sen.
It will forever remain a secret how reclusive actress Suchitra Sen, who was hardly seen in public in the last 35 year, ooked in her last days.
Suchitra Sen had to pay quit the price for her unique self-exile spanning over 30 years. In 2005, she was offered the Dadasaheb Phalke award with the rider that she would accept it in person. She declined.
It couldn't have been an easy decision for somebody who spent 30 years of her life facing the camera — rising steadily from an “extra” to the “glamour queen” of the industry.
Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, the then Information and Broadcasting Minister, insisted that she accept the award, earlier conferred on such legendary actors as Devika Rani and Kanan Devi. But Suchitra Sen preferred the enigma of invisibility over the most coveted of all Indian film awards.
Much like her life after movies, the final journey of the legendary actress too was a quiet affair with the administration taking measures honouring her wish of keeping her face away from public gaze.
The body of Sen, who died yesterday following cardiac arrest at a city nursing home, was carried to her Ballygunge residence in a coffin inside a hearse fitted with dark glasses and covered with floral wreaths.
The Mahanayika remained virtually invisible to the public during the entire process.
Hundreds of fans gathered around the medical facility hoping to get a glimpse of the screen-goddess.But only a chosen few -- including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee could pay their last respects.

Satkhira Shibir man killed in gunfight with joint forces

Star Online Report

An activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, was killed during a “gunfighth the members of joint forces in Sadar upazila of Satkhira early today, police said.
Victim Abu Hanif Choton, 16, was the son of Shahar Ali in Padmasakra area of the upazila, reports our Satk
When the members of joint forces were coming towards the village, the Jamaat-Shibir men attacked them at Purba Bhomra, nearly a kilometer away from Padmasakra, the police official said.
The party men charged several crude bombs and fired 11 bullets on the law enforcers, prompting them to retaliate w the law enforcers found bullet-riddled Choton lying on the ground.
He was immediately taken to Satkhira Sadar Hospital where duty doctor declared him dead, the OC said.
The comments from Jamaat side could not be available as the cell phone of Mohammad Obaidul, ameer of Bhomra Union unit of Jamaat, was found switched off. 

Condemning the attack

Condemning the attack on minority communities, the US has called the political leaders of Bangladesh to refrain from supporting violence.
"We call on all to stop committing further violence. And Bangladesh’s political leadership and those who aspire to lead must do everything in their power to ensure law and order, and refrain from supporting violence – especially against minority communities – inflaming rhetoric, and intimidation," said Jen Psaki, spokesperson of the US Department of State.
She made the comment on January 17 during a question answer session on their position on the allegations of violence against the minority community in Bangladesh.
She also strongly condemned the attacks on the Hindu community and said violence cannot be acceptable element of the political process.
"Well, we certainly are disappointed by recent incidents of violence. We condemn that in the strongest terms, the violence from all quarters that continues to mark the prevailing political impasse. Violence is not an acceptable element of the political process," she said.

UN officials killed in Kabul attack

IMF, UN officials killed in Kabul attack

BBC Online

Source: Reuters

An Afghan security personnel walks past a Lebanese restaurant, the site of a suicide bombing, in Kabul January 18, 2014. Up to 15 people, mostly foreigners, were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the popular Lebanese restaurant in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, police said.

A senior IMF official and four UN employees were among 15 people killed in a suicide bomb and gun attack on a restaurant in Kabul, officials say.
Wabel Abdallah, the head of the IMF's Afghanistan office, and the UN civilian staff died in the capital's popular Taverna du Liban, in what UN chief Ban Ki-moon said was a "horrific attack".
The other victims were Afghans, a Briton and another Lebanese national.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack late on Friday.
'Devastated'
The restaurant in Kabul's Wazir Akbar Khan area is popular with foreign nationals, diplomats and aid workers, and was busy with diners at the time of the attack.
A suicide attacker detonated his explosives outside the gate of the heavily-fortified restaurant, Deputy Interior Minister Mohammad Ayoub Salangi said.
Two gunmen then entered the restaurant and started "indiscriminately killing" people inside.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde later confirmed that Wabel Abdallah, 60, a Lebanese national, was among those who died.
"This is tragic news, and we at the fund are all devastated," Lagarde said in a statement.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned "in the strongest terms

Danish envoy to meet Khaleda this evening

Unb, Dhaka

L-R: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Denmark ambassador to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer

Denmark ambassador to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer will call on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia this evening.
The Danish envoy will meet the BNP chief at her political office in Gulshan around 7:30pm, Shamsuddin Didar, a media wing member of the BNP chairperson, told UNB.
Earlier Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, Saudi ambassador in Dhaka Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al Busairi and British High Commissioner in Dhaka Robert Gibson met Khaleda at her Gulshan residence on January 16, 13 and 8 respectively to discuss the current political situation.

Key accused found dead in Nilphamari

Attack on Noor: Key accused found dead in Nilphamari

Star Online Report

Source: STAR file

This file photo shows wreckage of 39 burnt motorbikes of the activists of Awami League and its front organisations, bearing testimony to the extent of barbaric attack on a December 14 march led by AL lawmaker Asaduzzaman Noor near Ramganj, eight km off Nilphamari town, is kept on the premises of Nilphamari Sadar Police Station

The body of Jamaat-e-Islami activist, who was the prime accused in a case filed for conducting an attack on a convoy of Asaduzzaman Noor last month, was found in Sadar upazila of Nilphamari this morning.
Five people including four local Awami League men were killed when activists of Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, attacked the motorcade of Noor, now cultural affairs minister, on December 14 last year.

The deceased was identified as: Golam Rabbani, 35, son of Mujibur Rahman, of Dubachhuri village in the upazila, reports our Nilphamari correspondent.
Locals of Palash Bari village at first saw the body floating on a canal and informed police.
Police went to the spot and recovered the body from around 8:30am, said Asad Mia, a sub-inspector (SI) of Sadar Police Station and also the investigation officer of the case.
The body was sent to Nilphamari Sadar Hospital for autopsy.
A case was filed with the police station in this connection, the SI added.
Locals claimed that Rabbani was an extortionist.
Noor's convoy came under attack while he was returning to Nilphamari town after visiting Laxmichap, Shishatoli and Palash Bari villages where Jamaat men two days ago torched some 80 shops and storehouses belonging to Hindus and AL activists.

The valley looked unreal. Ephemeral

Source: Inam Ahmed

The valley looked unreal. Ephemeral. Existence seemed illusory . Here only loneliness prevailed. Even the crickets could not beat that feeling. I kept losing myself. I did not know where I was. In Asia, Europe, North America or some other place.
I tried to think about the people living here. I could see in the distance the other cabin. The woman of the house walking on the perch, topless. Her husband standing and smoking the Hukka. She glanced at me and went back to doing what she was doing.
Her existence made the feeling of loneliness even more oppressive. The barrenness of the valley, contrasting with the deep forest made me depressed.
tried to think of Henry David Thoreau. His Walden.Why should I feel lonely Is not our planet in the Milky Way What sort of space is that which separates a man from his fellows and makes him solitary could see the spacemm I could feel the distance. I only looked for the stars but did not find a single one in the Milky Way.
I shivered as the breeze turned cool. Just then I saw two big birds  two great eared nightjarsoming my way in their graceful movement. They looked like two ballerinas dancing in the sky.
With the beating of their wings, the darkness whirled in murkiness. They circled above me and vanished over the hillk.

each of them carrying a monitor lizard

Source: Inam Ahmed

The boy got their prize. Photo: Inam Ahmed

In the afternoon, the elder kids returned, each of them carrying a monitor lizard. One was quite huge, about four feet long.
Their legs were tied and they were rolled into coils. They looked helplessly with sullen stares.
As the kids dropped them to the ground, the animals flinched in pain. The whole family gathered around them. Their joy was palpable. The children weighed them in their hands. The men and women felt for their meat and praised the kids for their bravery.
The smaller lizard was more agile unlike the bigger one which seemed to have resigned to its fate. From time to time, it squirmed to get free. And every time it wriggled, the children would hammer it. And when nobody was looking, it finally got its hind legs free and bolted out in lightening speed.
I watched it with bated breath. My every inch praying that it could escape. The kids hollered after it and in ten seconds it was caught again. As a runaway, it received some rough treatment. Its legs were secured tightly. The poor animal just lay there, panting.
Later, when we went for a walk, it again broke free, and this time it vanished into the jungle.
But for now, a fire was being built. The big one was carried to a distance to the bush and from the perch, I saw a knife being produced. I could see crimson blood splattering on the grass.
In the evening, I was sitting on the bridge above the creek. All around me the darkness was surreptitiously creeping in. the sky in the west was catching the late evening fire and the flares were streaking out with clouds.

all purpose treatment

Source: Inam Ahmed

The lady got down to cooking. Cooking in the hills is a simple affair. You just boil and add some Nappi and ginger. No oil or spice. But a lot of red hot chilli.
Breakfast was simple. Rice and boiled leaves.
As the sun rose higher, neighbours started streaming in. They somehow had come to know that there was a doctor with us – Dr Ronald Halder. So they wanted to grab this opportunity to get free treatment.
A woman had been suffering from chronic dysentery. She needed some anti-biotic. Someone was having fever. Another had toothache. So we handed out paracetamol tablets and oral saline. We carried some basic anti-biotics for all purpose treatment. We gave those too. A very old woman had asthma. But we could not help her.
A little child came with a badly swollen carbuncle on his throat. It must be paining a lot, but he was not crying. There was little we could do. So the doc advised the parent to apply coal poultice.
I wondered how these people survived without any healthcare here. The nearest treatment should be two days away.
By the time we had finished with our clinic, a man walked in with a strange looking tortoise about seven inches. None of us had seen its kind before. It obviously looked like a land tortoise unknown to us. This precious thing was going to be our lunch.

Their laughter ringing loud in the valley

Source: Inam Ahmed

Big black Carpenter bees hummed around. Persisting yellow bees kept coming to us, creeping over our skin. There was a distinct smell of Til flowers in bloom.
I lazily watched the children play like some wild goats on the tree trunk. They jumped and ran, they swung and somersaulted . Their laughter ringing loud in the valley. Their tattered clothes flapped in the wind.
A pack of 12 great slaty woodpeckers passed over to the forest, a rare sight today. Thousands of birds were chirping and singing around. The whole valley was kind of floating on bird songs. And I was bobbing on the waves.
The lady then chopped wood, after which she vanished towards the creek with five big pitchers. After a while she appeared with the pitchers perfectly balanced on top of her head. Fetching water is a tough job. I can’t imagine doing it several times a day.
She had dug some holes by the creek where water filters into. This they use for drinking. The creek water is for cooking.
The little kids came home carrying various leaves and ferns. They had dug out wild tubers, which when boiled tasted like sweet potato.

plates in the backyard

Source: Inam Ahmed

Anil was living happily away from here. But then he suddenly found that his belongings – plates, glasses, and even mats – are vanishing into the blues. A tight watch round the clock could not stop the mystery. He went to the priests who said spirits are angry with him and so he has to make them happy with offerings.
So Anil had to spend a hefty amount and soon his lost articles started reappearing around his house. His quilt found on the fence, plates in the backyard.
“I was scared. I knew my friend had come here to start life anew. So one day, I also packed up and came,” he said.
Anil will also move to a new patch next year.
Dinner consisted of venison, pumpkin and leaves of potato plants to go with chili paste.
The lights went out and I lay there on the bamboo perch and looked out. The whole world was now washed over with moonlight.
I felt sad and my heart was heavy. With Jhum cultivation starting here, this forest has no future. If seven stadium-sized patches are cleared every year by these seven families, how long will it take for the forest to disappear? Five to ten years at best? Because once it is depleted the remaining forest will have no value.

Save minority communities

HC asks govt to ensure adequate security

Staff Correspondent

National Human Rights Commission chief Mizanur Rahman, right, visits Kornai of Dinajpur yesterday to see the atrocities on the Hindus committed right after the January 5 polls. Photo: Star

The High Court has directed the government to immediately provide adequate security to the minority communities and other people vulnerable to post-polls attacks.
The HC directive came yesterday in the wake of attacks on Hindus and people adherent to ruling Awami League across the country surrounding the January 5 elections.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Mizanur Rahman and different organisations have demanded justice for the victims of the post-polls attacks.
The home secretary, the inspector general of police, the director general of Rapid Action Battalion and the deputy commissioners of Dhaka, Natore, Jessore, Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Satkhira, Jhalakathi, Tangail, Bogra, Pirojpur, Chandpur and Netrokona districts have been made respondents to the suomoto rule of the HC.
"The respondents are directed to take immediate steps to protect life, liberty, property and dignity of the citizens, by deploying forces not only to the specified districts and communities, however [but], all over the country wherever the citizens of the country specially those who are either minority, or are identified as vulnerable group,” the court said in the order.
The court also ordered the IGP to submit a report before it in seven days on what measures have been taken for the protection of the minorities and vulnerable group and what action has so far been taken against the persons who are directly or indirectly responsible for the attacks.
In the rule, the court asked the respondents to explain in two weeks why they should not be directed to take immediate steps by deploying necessary forces to protect the interests of the minority communities and other vulnerable groups of citizens.
The HC also ordered the respondents to explain why the citizens, who were already victimised or have lost life, liberty, dignity and property, should not be compensated.
The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain came up with the orders and rule following reports published on the daily Prothom Alo on January 7 and the daily Amader Sh

Jhum cultivation

Source: Madhubanti Anashua

We talked as we watched the woman of the house make Bar-B-Q of the squirrel, rolling the stick over and over on the ember flame.
This family used to live in Baghaihat, a settlement very long away from here. Then there was a Bangalee-Chakma riot and all the Chakma houses were burned down. Insecure and jobless, they migrated and went deeper and deeper into the forest until they found this place.
It was deep forest all around, just as pristine as we had seen earlier in the day. They cleared it up – the size of a big stadium – and went for Jhum cultivation.
“We made good harvest this year,” Susanta Chakma, the head of the family said. The evidence we could see in stacks of jute sacks in the inside room. More paddy is waiting to be harvested. “Next year, we will abandon this place and clear the next patch of forest.”
Susanta’s neighbour Anil had also joined us. He has a rather peculiar story to tell.

Dochowani along with Deki Shak steamed

Source: Inam Ahmed

Once they were tall and alive. Today they are dead and charred.

This turned out to be our camp for the next three nights. The Chakma couple has four kids – three boys aged between 11 and three and a lovely six-year-old girl.
Our tired bodies badly needed a bath in the cool stream water. The sun had already gone beyond the hills and forest; a pale light made the dusk mysterious.
In that light, the head of the family came with an orange-bellied squirrel hunted from the forest. The fluffy body of the squirrel touched soft and warm.
We climbed to the balcony. Dochowani along with Deki Shak steamed with Nappi was served. The moon was bigger today and the whole valley was awash with moonlight. We could make out every single tree on the edge of the forest. We could see the stream from up here. Beyond that another hut of another family. A mountain scops owl was calling. It was joined by a brown hawk owl. The night was settling in on this remoteness.

Dakhooo

Source: Sanjida Jui

Trees as big as this one litter the forest. Note the man standing beside.

We walked in silence, not by any agreement but by some unconscious, natural understanding. Slowly and slowly we were getting sucked into a fairytale world. The creepers turning into serpents. The trees transforming into trolls and gnomes. We could hear the forest’s voice. Every forest has its own voice; here it spoke in murmurs and sighs. Here it breathed heavy. Its rustling whispers we cannot understand.
The partridges were calling again. “Dakhooo, Dakhooo.”
We heard the soft rasping of a big bird flying out. The squirrels clucked. Suddenly a brown hawk owl broke its slumber with a sleepy, gurgling call. And then fell silent again.
We sat on the trunk of a fallen tree and felt the presence of life around us. We felt the trees. Their symphonies in their highest branches. Their search for infinity with their roots. Their own fulfilment.
I touched the trunk and felt its kernel. I touched hundred years of stories and whispers. I felt both eternity and end of eternity. I felt trust and strength. And I felt sleep creeping over me.
About two hours later, we came to the edge of the forest. A stream ran across here with crystal clear water.
In front of us lay a different view. In the afternoon light, we could see a valley flooded in golden rays. For a vast stretch, ripened Jhum paddy swayed in gentle breeze. The sun reflected on the paddy to produce a golden glow. Carcasses of tall trees stood still against a deep blue sky sprinkled with white clouds. There was a distinct smell of ripened paddy, Tishi and other all sorts of unrecognizable seeds. In the distance we could see a bamboo lean-to.

elephant had come down the trees

Source: Inam Ahmed

After lunch we walked across the river and stepped into the forest. And for us life changed forever.
None of us have ever experienced anything like this. The trees had sprung at least 500 feet high, some of them reaching about a thousand feet. They were thick. Five of us stretched our hands together and yet could not encircle one tree.
Lantana creepers as thick as the trunk of an elephant had come down the trees, hanging and touching other trees like huge pythons. We found strange toadstools and mushrooms growing in the soggy nooks and corners. A big toadstool shone black as if dipped in tar. Saucer shaped orange mushrooms had bloomed on rotting trees.
Hornbills fluttered off a high branch. We were startled by the clear call of bamboo partridges: “Da-khooo. Da-khoo” almost sounding like “Look at me” in Bangla. We could hear trogon’s call..
Sambars, rabbits, boars and otters had run around the forest. Their marks were everywhere.
We did not find a single tree that had been chopped down. It was truly a pristine forest, never been invaded by the loggers. Tucked i

This man had no idea about city life

Source: Sanjida Jui

The baby monkey. I wish I could take him along.

“Do you want to take it?” Susanta, the owner of the monkey, asked me. “It’s very gentle. A good pet.”
I shook my head and sighed. This man had no idea about city life. Apartments do not offer the luxury of keeping a pet.
Lakhkhichhara forest was just across the river standing in its hermit-like silence. I looked at it for a long time, taking in its majestic beauty. A forest has two kinds of beauty — the outer layer and the inner soul.
The outer layer gives it the form. The attraction. But once you enter, you will not find that any more. The inner soul will take over. The inner soul is much more intimate, much more critical and microscopic. The ants, the cicadas, the rotting stumps, the bulbs and the petals, the strange leaves and formations and the smell. It’s not a singular experience ever.
The deep green of the outer layer had a mesmerizing effect on me. I felt like a primitive man from the ancient time who needs to explore the inner wealth of the forest. I could feel a wave like static electricity passing through me. I felt restless to face its diversity.

I saw the largest flock of hill myna in my life

Source: Inam Ahmed

A strange tree full of Rambutang like fruits appeared. A hornbill peered at us through its foliage, a fruit neatly nestled between its beaks. Orange-bellied green pigeons in their troves danced among the branches and fluttered away at our approach. Orange-bellied squirrels ran up and down the tree. I saw the largest flock of hill myna in my life — not less than 300 together.
As the forest deepened we found more of the hornbills. All the way, we met shikras, goshawks, honey buzzards and kestrels. Along the river we met hoof marks of deer and wild boars.
Eight hours later, the river became even narrower and the forest denser. It was 2 o’clock. We stopped the boat and climbed up the bank to find a hut.
We were hungry and the Chakma family was too hospitable to let us use their kitchen. We were carrying our own supplies – lots of cabbages, beans, eggs, rice and lentils.
Preparing meal took an hour. While the food was cooking, we played with a baby monkey that the family had captured and was keeping as a pet. We gave it lozenge which it gleefully sucked on, casting around gratifying glances. I found no difference between this cute animal and the baby in our house. It would climb to our head and swing from our arms.

strong current

Source: Sanjida Jui

Morning comes softly and mysteriously to the valley.

Children were already running around the yard, playing with trivial things. Two kids were having a sword fight with long bean like fruits of Gila tree. One was just playing with his dog, making it run after him and then kicking it in its ribs. The dog yelped but followed the kid again.
We went straight to the boat and started the journey. The river was flowing full with last night’s rain.
The going was excruciatingly slow against a strong current of brown roiling water. Half an hour later, a miraculous change started taking place around us.
We were now engulfed by a dense forest. The Segun trees had ceased to exist here. Instead, Garzans, Chapalis and numerous species unknown to us were standing tall and thick. Along the thin line of the river, the trees made a thick wall and the sky gleaned blue. The river bent and twisted every hundred meters or so.

open square

Source: Inam Ahmed

The cabin where we halted for the first night.

Our boat was getting stuck. I could hear the bottom of the boat grating against the sandy bed. So I had to make the stopover here at Dochhara, a small hill settlement of a few Chakma families. The river Gangaram has bifurcated here to give a name to this place — Do meaning two and Chhara meaning stream.
A bamboo mat was laid out in the open square when we reached Dochhara and I spread myself on it, every inch of my body wanting some rest. A few plastic chairs were produced from somewhere and my guides sat on them.
We discussed our next day’s plan as food was being cooked in a hut. A chicken was killed and soaked in boiled water to skin it. Cabbage chunks were boiled. Flame hot chilli paste mixed with strong smelling Nappi. Small and rounded aubergines grown only in the hills were boiled to go with Dochowani, the local drink.
After nine hours of journey, we were still far away from our destination – Lakhkhichhari Reserve Forest. We had heard this is one hell of a place with giant trees and rare animals and birds. But the problem was even our Chakma guides had not been there before.

Our conservation

Source: Sanjida Jui

It took us a few months to arrange the trip. We had to establish contacts with at least three armed groups who reign over the forest. Only after getting green signal from them that we knew we were going there.
It was a motley crowd — our guides. A gunman carrying a Remington .22 rifle to guard against wild animal attacks, a journalist from Bagaihat who actually coordinated everything, a young boy of about 20 whose purpose of accompanying us was unclear but he was believed to be a spy from one of the armed groups and a local union parishad member.
And at the end of the first day’s journey, lay under a quarter-moon hanging there in the west, casting a pale light around. Our conservation had now turned to how snakes infest the hills and how frequently people get bitten.
We could see the river flowing by, its water receded even further. We were getting worried. If there was no rain tonight we would either have to walk to the destination or abandon the trip.
Just then there was a yelp from the gunman: “Snake.”
In the beam of the flashlight, we saw this three feet long reptile, red as amber, slithering across the gunman’s foot.
Before any of us could say ‘zip’ the gunman pulled out his knife, slashed the snake into two and flung it into the river. We sat dumbfounded.
We had a silent dinner and dispersed to sleep. But before sleep I had to relieve myself in the bush. It gave me Goosebumps thinking of all those snakes lurking out there.
And right now sitting here all wet in the dark hut I was happy that Gangaram would be full and furious tomorrow and my boat would move.
Woke up at 5.30 and found the hills shinning in golden rays.

The last forest, its lost children

Inam Ahmed

Source: Madhubanti Anashua

This is the boat we travelled on for 19 hours to the destination.

That was my fastest waking up from sleep.
For a while I wondered where I was and why I was not sleeping in the middle of the night. I got the answers instantly.
It was not raining but pouring on me, the water coming through the rickety thatched roof of the bamboo house. My sleeping bag was getting wet, my camera and backpack too.
I bolted up in a flash. I must have beaten any world record in dismantling the mosquito net and packing up a sleeping bag.
Now I knew why my Chakma host was insisting that I slept in the next room. But after a nine-hour journey without food on a small wooden boat — so small that you cannot even rest your back against anything — I felt like closing my eyes wherever I could spread my sleeping bag.
And at this hour, here in this remote place in Khagrachhari I heard the distant thunders rolling, echoed by the hills around. I could see the deep forest in front of my cabin in the sudden flashes across the sky.
But then I was happy and wished for more rain. Because tomorrow I was to travel even deeper into the forest. But Gangaram, the narrow river that I was following, had dried up because there was no rain in the past few days.

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Fakhrul gets HC bail in 3 cases^Breaking

Police asked not to arrest or harass him till filing probe reports

Star Online Report

The High Court today granted bail to BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in three separate cases including the Shahbagh and Bangla Motor arson attack cases in the capital.
The court also directed police not to harass or arrest the BNP leader till submission of the probe reports in the cases.

Durjoy Rahman Joy

Art collector with an edge

Takir Hossain

Durjoy Rahman Joy is an avid art collector. His largest collection includes the artworks of contemporary Bangladeshi master painters, Indian great masters, Western contemporary artists and a number of promising Bangladeshi painters. His collection now exceeds 800 works of art. He has visited many art fairs, festivals and biennales around the world.  The collector said, “Art should not be considered as an investment but purely a hobby. I always feel that the effort involved in collecting and the pleasure of owning major works by important artists is very satisfying. Though the Bangladesh art market is underpriced, seeing art as a future investment takes away all the fun of acquiring a wo
Joy started collecting paintings in the earlyer since, he keeps some criteria in m quality, historical and philosophical aspect of the artwork and its aesthetic value. Joy s a collector, to impart a message through my collection. I tend to explain it in this way: an artist is creating a sign, and the collector at a certain point is taking these signs and putting them together to give another message; the collecto is creating something noeran artist. Aminul Islam is another of his admired painters. Jo said,hough artist Aminul Islam inspired me, artist Rafiqun Nabi inspired me the most since I have spent many hours with these two senior artists and tried to understand their lives, devotion and struggle that helped to build my collection. Nabi is artist who adheres to experimental realism. Blending romanticism and impressionism, heoes figurative work. On the other hand, Islam's powerful drawings reveal his mastery over lines and superb position skills. Islam made an immense contribution by introducing modern paintings in Bangladesh. Among contemporary Bangladshi painters, Joy has a great fascination for Murtaja Baseer's works. He said, egance, simpy, serenity are the prime traits o Baseer's paintings. I also lik his application of colour and the separation of colours in his paintis. Though I have large of collection of Rafiqun Nabi and Murtaja Baseer, it is not the number but quality that should determine the collector's strength.  The definition of the collector does not mean that person has to possess a large collection or buy in volum Joy has a rich collection of veteran painter Samarjit Roy Chowdhury. He said collected some of his paintings from different sources. Mwife learned drawing from him and got the opportunity to collect some of his extraordinary workm Joy has a number of artworks of Quamrul Hassan in different mediums of several periods. He has also a fascination for Shahabuddin's paintings and owns a number of oil paintings of the painter from 1972 to 2010. He collected most of them from the painter in Paris.
About Joy's collection, veteran artist Rafiqun Nabi said, “He is a delightful and passionate collector. His collection has been enriched with many internationally acclaimed artists' works. Joy's collection has an extraordinary trait in that he collects the series of works of his preferred artists. He visits several recognised auction houses and purchases painting from them. He enjoys visiting art galleries and museums in the countries he travels to, in order to get familiar with the art and the art movement of those countries. I have observed he always takes meticulous care of his paintings. Joy is very optimistic about Bangladeshi art. He saidee a very promising futurngladesh since many young professionals and business people are significantly contributing in collecting and promoting the art scene. Then the old custodians are no way staying behind in the race. So combinig all this I see a great boom in the art scene and the art market in the country.”
Several Indian artists like Akbar Padamsee, Ram Kumar, Jamini Roy, Nandalal Bose, Subramanyam, Jogen Chowdhury, Paritosh Sen, Sunil Das, Bijen Chowdhury, MF Hussain, Sanat Kar and a number of European artists Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, David Hockney, Henry Moore, Andy Warhol and Lucian Freud have also enriched his collections. Most of his paintings are on display at his permanen Baridra in the capital. The gallery won thaluable colle eminent art critic and architect Shamsul Wares said, “Joy is not a simple collector. He has a great zeal for collecting rare works which are not familiar to art aficionados. He has tried to blend culture and time with his collection. His collection is not a matter of business. Most of his works have historical and anthological value. He spends generously on procurement of great works of art, not for functional gain but to satisfy the internal need of his soul

Most Asian nations

Most Asian nations have been expanding their military budgets and capabilities in recent years. Now there is a new rush by Southeast Asian countries to acquire submarines because they have the money to pay for them.

On Jan. 1, Vietnam received its first of six Russian Kilo-class submarines. The last one is expected to be delivered in 2016. Myanmar intends to create a submarine force by 2015. Thailand plans to include the purchase of submarines in its soon-to-be-announced 10 -year armed forces development proposal. Thai officers are already enrolled at submarine training schools in Germany and South Korea, two potential submarine suppliers.

Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia have submarine fleets and plan to procure more. Malaysia paid a Franco-Spanish consortium $1.1 billion for two submarines in 2007 and 2009. Indonesia expects to replace its two aging submarines and expand its fleet to 12 with submarines from South Korea and possibly Russia by 2020. Only the Philippines, among the big nations, has not acquired new submarines yet.

These countries are not arming against each other. The arms expansion is a reaction to increasing uncertainty about the distribution of power in the region, caused largely by the extension of Chinese naval power into the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. But Chinese naval expansion is not likely to be halted by these submarine fleets. China will simply augment its anti-submarine capability. Each expansion only adds to regional suspicion and tension.

It is not at all clear that China would be more restrained with its aggressive claim if these nations possessed more military power. Japan’s substantial military power, including an advanced submarine fleet, has not stopped

Usha keep Club Cup title

Sports Reporter

Usha Krira Chakra players take a victory lap after defeating Abahani 3-1 in the Club Cup Hockey final at the Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. Photo: Star

Usha Krira Chakra retained the title of the Club Cup Hockey Tournament with an easy 3-1 victory over Abahani in the final at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Moinul Islam Koushik and Krishna Kumar struck one goal apiece for Usha before Pukhor Kisha Mimo netted a consolation goal for Abahani. The win took Usha's Club Cup title haul to four, level with Mohammedan SC.
Usha came into the final having scored 28 goals in the tournament and took the lead in the fourth minute when Krishna cut the ball back to Rabbi, who took a reverse-hit to find the back of the Abahani goal.
Usha, apparently playing on counter-attack, and youngster Koushik doubled the margin in the 45th minute with a fierce hit after being set up by veteran forward Maksudul Alam Habul. Usha made it 3-0 in the 66th minute when Krishna hit a rebound from inside the box.
Mimo pulled a goal back in the 69th minute for Abahani, but that was too late as the Sky Blues had to be content with the runners-up trophy for the second successive time.
“Credit goes to the players who performed as a collective unit. It was easy for them to adapt to my strategy as most of them had played under me in the Navy team,” said Usha coach Mamunur Rashid. “We want to carry this performance into the upcoming Premier Division League.”
Abahani's advisory coach Mahbub Harun said they could not succeed due to the failure of the forwards, who failed to execute the finishing moves.
“Usha's defence played really well and blocked all our attacks, but I think we will come back and play better in the Premier Division league,” said Harun.

Japan emerges as strong destination for garment exports

Shipments rise 18.53pc year-on-year in 2012-13

Refayet Ullah Mirdha

The country's garment exports to Japan are on the rise on the back of favourable trade policy and higher demand, industry insiders said.
In fiscal 2012-13, garment exports to Japan stood at $478.48 million, up 18.53 percent year-on-year, according to data from Export Promotion Bureau. The figures were $247.51 million and $173.32 million in fiscal 2010-11 and 2009-10 respectively.
The reason for the steady increase in garment exports to the East Asian island nation is its 'China+1 strategy', announced by the Japanese government in 2008 to reduce dependency on China, the largest garment supplier worldwide. The policy promotes shifting of production from China to other nations such as Bangladesh.
“Japan is a very promising market, and it is to do with the prevalence of fast fashion there. The demand for denims is very high,” said Sharif Uddin, senior merchandiser of Pacific Jeans, which has been doing business with Japanese buyers for a “long time now”.
He said the garment makers are desperately looking for merchandisers with proficiency in the Japanese dialect in a bid to get a foot in the door of a market worth more than $35 billion a year.
Mohammad Hatem, vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, said knitwear exports to Japan now stand at around $500 million, which was $100 million even a few years ago.
“Our exports to Japan will increase rapidly if there is stability in our internal politics,” he said, adding that knitwear export growth to Japan is more than 50 percent a year due to relaxation of Rules of Origin (RoO) by the Japanese government on April 1, 2012.
Being a member of the least-developed countries' group, Bangladesh has duty-free access to Japan for woven products.

Political jitters to slow economic growth

WB forecasts 5.7pc GDP growth for current fiscal year

Star Business Report

The World Bank forecasts Bangladesh's GDP growth to be around 5.7 percent this fiscal year, well below the government's target of 7.2 percent, due to political unrest, image crisis of the garment sector and slow remittance growth.
The projection came in the multilateral lender's latest edition of the Global Economic Prospectus, which was released on Tuesday.
The report predicts South Asia's regional GDP growth to come to 5.7 percent this year and developing countries' 5.3 percent.
“The projected growth [of 5.7 percent] is not bad seeing that Bangladesh's peer countries are expected to grow at the same rate or less this year. And not to forget the present context,” Zahid Hussain, lead economist of World Bank's Dhaka office, told The Daily Star. The GDP growth last fiscal year stood at 6.03 percent.
Hassan Zaman, chief economist of Bangladesh Bank, told The Daily Star yesterday that the World Bank's growth forecast “looks reasonable”, as the central bank's most recent growth projection for fiscal 2013-14 ranges between 5.7 percent and 6.0 percent.
However, the report said the risks to the outlook for Bangladesh are tilted to the downside, on balance. “Political uncertainties related to national election in Bangladesh ... could hamper a sustained revival of business confidence and investment,” it said. Hussain further said the national election this year was “not normal”, so risks of resurgence of political turmoil remains. “The losing party normally refrains from holding further demonstrations following national elections even if they hold grudges about the fairness of the polls. But this time is different.”
Another challenge to achieving the projected GDP growth comes by way of the image crisis of the country's main export sector, the garment sector, owing to the twin industrial disasters of Rana Plaza collapse and Tazreen fire, the WB economist said. “The political turmoil, which surfaced few months later, made things worse for the sector.”
Shahidullah Azim, vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, expects the full impact to be felt in February or March's figures.
Since October the country has lost around 50 working days due to shutdowns and blockades, which directly affected the small and medium industries and transport sectors. “This loss cannot be made up, so growth is bound to be lower than in the previous year.”
Moreover, remittance, one of the driving forces of the economy in recent years, has been showing signs of a slowdown of late. It will curb the purchasing power of the lower income group, which will, in turn, reduce the demand for locally-produced goods like soap, lungi and television sets. “This will affect GDP growth.”
Meanwhile, the report projected the global GDP growth to accelerate from 2.4 percent in 2013 to 3.2 percent this year.
“Five years after the global financial crisis, the world economy is showing signs of bouncing back this year, pulled along by a recovery in high-income economies.”
Growth prospects for 2014 are, however, sensitive to the tapering of monetary stimulus in the US, which began earlier this month, and to the structural shifts taking place in China's economy, the report added.

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Good realisation in the end

Inam Ahmed Everyone waited with bated breath as BNP chief Khaleda Zia spoke at a press conference to outline her party's next line of actions. Thirty minutes later, they heaved a sigh of relief as no new wave of hartal and blockade was announced.
That is the welcome new realisation that has dawned on the BNP leader. In the last two and a half months, she had waged a most violent agitation which saw fatal clashes, burning of public vehicles that led to the deaths in flames of more than 120 innocent souls and damage of public property of an unparallel scale.
This strategy yielded very little in BNP's favour. Rather people were aghast. Despite repeated calls from all quarters, including the media, Khaleda did not relent to change this line of action. The economy bled. The poor bled. The country bled.
But now, we can thank her for shunning that path. Her new strategy is smart and positive for several reasons.
First, she has seen the folly of waging this kind of violent programmes. These only alienate the party from the people.
Secondly, her programmes are now more people oriented. She will hold "peaceful" protests and rallies with black flags. She has stressed the word "peaceful".  She would also take on tours for mass mobilisation.  On all these counts, her party had failed in its previous movement.  We hardly saw her doing the mass mobilisation that was needed to stop the one-sided election that had just been held. Her party leaders never came to the streets for movement; rather the thugs ruled the agitation with mindless brutality.
And she has clearly depicted the misrule of the last government. She has been able to rightly point out the rampant nature of corruption and brutal rule that the country has gone through over the past five years.
Above all, we can all thank her that she did not go for another endless bout of strikes and blockades that have wreaked havoc on the country.
Her call on the government to allow her party to do politics in its rightful way is also correct. It is now time for the government to let her party offices function and let her hold all peaceful democratic programmes.
Most of her party leaders are behind bars. And it is obvious that many of the charges against them are fabricated. Her demand for the immediate release of these leaders is also a rightful one.
This is no way of doing democracy by interning Khaleda to hold elections and sending anyone of her party who dared to talk to jail.  This culture has to change.
Khaleda has called for dialogues to resolve the crisis and look forward to an election in which all parties and above all, the people, will take part.  While this is the right approach we should also remind her that such dialogues should be in its true spirit and not only to fool the people, as we have seen prior to the election.
But at the same breath, we have to point out some other overtures of Khaleda's speech.
While denouncing the pre-election violence and the post-election attacks on Hindus, she has flatly put the blame on the government and the Awami League. She has also mentioned media reports to support her claims.
This is denying the fact, flatly. The mainstream media have reported extensively on the violence and attacks. There is no denying that these were carried out by Jamaat and BNP activists.  Khaleda also did not condemn such activities. And she is now trying to shift the blame.
She has also termed this government "illegal". This is a travesty of truth. The new