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Monday, July 28, 2008

Re: [mukto-mona] Re: Humayun Ahmed's comments

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/49190

Dear Mr. Alam,
how are you sir?

i cannot even support Humayun Ahmed; respect is impossible.
i personally call him Money Humayun. he is a total idiot, otherwise why would he make such stupid comment about dr. azad?
Money Humayun, Imdadul Haq Milan and Dr. Jafar Iqbal destroying Bengali literature in Bangladesh.
Money Humayun is absolutely worthless.

does he write better than dr. azad, soyad shamsul haq, alauddin al azad, shaowkat osman, hasan azizul haq, etc?
even imdadul haq milan produced some better books compare to Money Humayun.

you could read books by these authors, and then you will see the difference.
if you want to discuss any particular book by Money Humayun, the you are welcome; but that would be waste of time.

thanks
Salman S.


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[mukto-mona] Re: Suicide Bombers ending their lives on a daily basis, Why ?

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/49192

Trust Mr Mohiuddin Anwar to make a retarded and ignorant comment and you can't ever go wrong. Yes, a vast majority of suicide bombers today are Muslims in carrying out the ancient Hashashin tradition of Hassan-i-Sabah. Today, the tradition has spread to the Sunni sect of Islam who seem to have adopted it from following the Shia Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Historically, though, there have been several other places where
traditions of martyrdom in battle were little more than variations of
the suicide bomber's ways. The Vikings believed in going to heaven by
dying in battle and getting virgins and liquor long before the
Islamic religion even existed. Their Valhalla was little different
from the virgin and wine-filled heaven that Al Qaeda and other
brainwashed jihadi idiots seek today. There have also been Hindu
suicide bombers among the LTTE and other Sri Lankan Tamil groups and
these have predated the current Middle Eastern Muslim suicide bombers
in their operations by more than a decade. Even earlier, there were
the Kamikaze of Japan who followed the Shinto religion in that
country in WW-2, and, recent research and investigation into the
history of the Nazis has shown that they, too, had their own suicide-
soldiers through that same war though they were not as well organized
as the Japanese were. And the Nazis were mostly Catholic with a few
Lutherans thrown into their ranks.

So, what is the point of this patently ridiculous and ignorant post?
If Mr Mohiuddin Anwar thinks that suicide bombings are a symbol of
nobility among the followers of his religion, I would like to ask him if he is willing to blow himself up to demonstrate his devotion to the ideals that he seeks to praise.


Mehul Kamdar


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[mukto-mona] Re: Solar energy trials

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/49197

Dear Mr Ray,

I find it bewildering that every single Indian article on solar energy
speaks ONLY about solar photovoltaics and nothing at all about Solar
Thermal Energy Systems. While the former convert sunlight directly into
electricity, the latter are just like conventional steam turbines but
with a difference - instead of a fossil fuel heating the water to
produce steam and drive a turbine, these use sunlight to do this.
Admittedly, it might be difficult to find adequate sopurces of water in
a desert state like Rajasthan, for example, but there are numerous
areas on India's coasts where this technology could be applied. The
costs would not be significantly higher than setting up a coal fired
thermal powerplant and whatever differences in initial cost may exist,
they would easily be made up as the plant would not require to use any
fossil fuel once it is set up. It is really strange to me that this
technology, which has been used by the French on an experimental basis
since the 1970s and which is being rapidly set up in several parts of
the world these days finds zero mention in Indian literature on this
subject outside the SEEM discussion forums. Could a vast body of
experts be unaware of this technology? Or are they 9gnoring it for a
reason? I am not going to make any guesses here.

Some plants that have recently been commissioned include Nevada's Solar
One http://nevadasolarone.net/ the Saguaro Solar Trough Powerplant in
Arizona:
http://www.aps.com/_files/renewable/SP017SaguaroSolarTrough.pdf There
are large plants under construction in South Africa and Saudi Arabia at
the moment and I wonder why, with some of the best engineering talent
in the world in its IITs, India cannot design and use this technology?

Even if we take the Solar Photovoltaic route, there are breakthroughs
in manufacturing cheap solar cells that are translating into a direct
reduction in the cost of setting these units up. One company, Nano
Solar http://nanosolar.com/ already sells low cost solar panels and it
has an Indian on its board of directors.

There is also significant research going into thin film solar
photovoltaics at several institutions including the following:

Idaho National Laboratory and University of Missouri
https://inlportal.inl.gov/portal/server.pt?
open=514&objID=1269&mode=2&featurestory=DA_101047

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Osaka University (this is a high
tech proposal with a space based system that converts solar light into
lasers and then redirects them towards the earth to generate
electricity on the ground): http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/lasers/japan-
aerospace-exploration-agency-develop-solar+powered-lasers-for-energy-
generation-297145.php

Solar Nanoflake Technology developed at the Niels Bohr Institute at the
University of Copenhagen:
http://www.netpublikationer.dk/um/8770/html/chapter15.htm

I can guarantee that at every one of these universities / research
centers there are more than a few Indians and other South Asians
working. I wonder why, with this being the case, none of this work is
even mentioned in the writing that comes out of India? Would you not
agree that there is a need to research the antecedents of those with a
vested interest in the direction of their comments in the face of
considerable evidence both from research institutions and in industry
that breakthroughs are being made virtually by the day?

Best wishes,

Mehul Kamdar


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Re: [mukto-mona] Suicide Bombers ending their lives on a daily basis, Why ?

WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/49192

Muslim suicide bombers are attracted to the promises of heaven after death.� Rosy pictures of life hereafter makes death a preference over living in shabby conditions in which most of the muslims live.� If belief in life hereafter vanishes, they will try to make this life better with developing worldly skills, knowledge and cooperation with other communities, instead of committing suicide. Belief in religion and life hereafter make them unfit for living amicably in this world.

Sanjeev


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[ALOCHONA] Corruption at BSMU Hospital: 1 tool overpriced by Taka 80 lakhs

Corruption Investigation 1

Hospital of graft

Once reputed BSMMU turned into a horrible institution during BNP-led regime; investigations find corruption in purchase, appointment, promotion by hospital top brass

Courtesy Daily Star 29/7/08 Julfikar Ali Manik and Emran Hossain

 

Purchase of a piece of equipment for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University's (BSMMU) cardiology department has cost a loss of Tk 80 lakh as the authorities got the Tk 47 lakh heart-lung machine at Tk 1.27 crore.

In another event of irregularities, the paediatrics department proposed to purchase a Broncoscopy machine at Tk 21 lakh in 2005. But the university authorities got it at Tk 26 lakh in 2006 and the machine remains unused still today.

The nephrology department intended to repair water treatment plant (WTP), which should have cost Tk 4 lakh. But the then pro-vice chancellor MA Mannan being self-inspired bought a new WTP expending Tk 12.5 lakh of the university fund.

These are the few examples of huge corruption at BSMMU during the five-year rule of BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance government under vice-chancellor late MA Hadi, who served from October 2001 to November 2006. Hadi passed away on October 16, 2007.

Financial corruption alone does not end the story of irregularities. Appointments and promotion of teachers and staffs also witnessed irregularities and corruption, which, according to faculty members, would leave a long-term impact.

A medical officer became professor at the vascular surgery department in three years, whereas it requires three years to be associate professor from assistant professor and five more years to be a professor.

The BSMMU, lone medical university of the country, has set an example of how the top brass including the VC can spoil such a service-oriented institution through corruption and irregularities with blessings from partisan influential professionals.

"We've investigated financial corruption of only Tk 20 crore to Tk 25 crore. More irregularities and graft were found during investigations. We only incorporated those that matched with the terms of reference of our work," said an investigator of the probe committees formed by the university and the government.

"The purchase process embezzled public money. But graft in appointments and promotion of unqualified teachers and doctors has caused a long-term loss as eligible and qualified officials were deprived. It would definitely reduce the standard of higher studies if we cannot take action against those involved in the process and fail to bring in correction," said Prof Nazrul Islam, who was chairman of the probe committee formed by the university.

Investigations revealed stunning information about different types of graft in BSMMU including bribery involving even the VC.

Officials wonder how one could think of such an act being carried out by a person like the VC with the help of other teachers, doctors and officials who were supposed to uphold the institution's dignity.

Besides getting personal benefits through corruption, Hadi also carried out irregularities to get his two sons established at the university through appointment and promotion.

"It's beyond imagination how persons of such stature were involved in graft in sheer violation of rules, regulations and purchase process," said a professor of the university who was involved in the investigation conducted by the university.

The investigators have so far unearthed evidence of graft involving over Tk 22 crore purchase and maintenance, about half of which was estimated as loss of the university.

Besides BSMMU-formed probe committee, the government is also conducting simultaneous investigations by the army-led task force and the Anti-Corruption Commission.

However, though several committees were formed both by the university and the government in phases no action could be taken in this regard.

Sources say some of the university-formed committees include persons who were partners in corruption during the tenure of Hadi. They are not willing to look into the issues and are trying to convince the government investigators that no graft had actually taken place, the sources add.

Even the investigation committees formed by Hadi could not make any headway as it was politically biased and targeted to take a hand on the opposition rather than combating graft, the sources observe.

CORRUPTION IN APPOINTMENT
The probe committee led by Prof Nazrul found that 15 professors, 14 associate professors and 10 assistant professors were appointed or promoted violating three conditions required for appointment and promotion.

The probes also revealed that about 400 medical officers and 11 non-medical officers were appointed violating the rules and regulations.

The investigations also found that Mohammad Abul Kashem, a ward boy of dental department and CBA president, had his share in the illegal appointments of medical and non-medical officers.

The probe report categorically says all the documents and pieces of evidence regarding involvement of Kashem in appointment graft should be handed over to ACC.

Candidates should qualify in three categories for being entitled to appointment or promotion. The categories are educational qualification, experience and publications.

Speaking anonymously, a top-level administrative official told The Daily Star, "Although the candidates didn't qualify in the categories they were appointed considering special qualifications. Candidates lacking in qualifications for becoming an assistant professor were made professor in this way."

EXAMPLES OF CORRUPTION
Most of the purchase was made through quotation and without floating any tender except for a couple of cases though any purchase involving money more than Tk 2 lakh should be given through tender.

In some cases tender notification was published in one newspaper only though it was supposed to be published in more than one newspaper.

There were instances that no technical evaluation was carried out on receipt of the quotation. The purchase was made violating all rules, regulations, and provisions. Besides, the matter of purchase was not informed to the central purchase committee.

Investigators say there is a gulf of difference between the prices of the heart-lung machines bought by BSMMU and other medical institutions at the same time. Other medical institutions bought the machine from same supplier and at a much lower price, they add.

Earlier, medicine named Injection Ceftriaxon (Inj. Trizon) used to be purchased from EDCL, but BSMMU began purchasing it through quotation in violation of purchase rules from 2002-03 fiscal year. Former VC Hadi in each case mentioned on the documents that "work orders be granted" causing a loss of Tk 31.3 lakh.

The Echo-Cardiogram Machine worth Tk 83.55 lakh purchased for the cardiology department and cardiac surgery was bought without any requirement and specification from the department. The machine was purchased in accordance with the specification of the supplier. No technical evaluation committee was formed.

Six ventilators were purchased for the aneastheology department causing a loss of Tk 75 lakh. The VC on May 19, 2004 decided to purchase the machines worth Tk 1.2 crore through spot quotation by forming a committee the same day.

"Purchase of the ventilators was so necessary that those remained abandoned and unused for three years," an investigator said ironically.

The investigators found that purchase of telephone sets caused a loss of Tk 10.42 lakh.

The primary expenditure for ICU renovation was approved at Tk 12.9 lakh. Excess work was carried out at verbal order of the authorities and later another Tk 12.5 lakh was approved for the purpose. An additional expenditure of Tk 3.44 lakh was shown in the bill. Due to the verbal order about Tk 15 lakh was spent in addition to the approved amount.

The second Cathlab (a machine to conduct Angiogram) was purchased at Tk 7.52 crore and the VC granted the amount though he had the authority to grant maximum Tk 50 lakh.

The authorities reduced the warranty period to three years from seven years as suggested by the Technical Evaluation Committee, causing a loss of Tk 4.20 crore in purchasing and reducing the warranty period.

The Lithotripsy Machine for Urology was purchased at a higher rate of about Tk 5 crore without considering the loss. The lowest bidder proposed Tk 3.2 crore. But at the same time the same supplier sold the machine of same specification at a price, which was Tk 1 crore less than BSMMU's.

About Tk 4.35 crore was spent in purchasing 12 types of operation theatre items through a frail purchase process. The items include scissors, ICU bed, blood gas, invasive monitor, and ICU ventilators.

Paediatics Department Chairman Prof MA Mannan, who was pro-VC at that time, however, told The Daily Star, "I don't know whether any corruption had taken place or not, but there might have been some procedural irregularities."

BRIBERY
The government investigators say they have traced incidents of money transaction as bribe by the VC and some other BSMMU administrative officials in purchasing equipment in at least six cases and one renovation case. In some cases investigators have got witnesses to bribery incidents.

The sources categorically mention that there is an allegation of bribery in purchasing Lithotripsy and second Cathlab machines against Hadi and Deputy Registrar Dr Kazi Ebadullah.

The purchase was made through Tk 85 lakh bribe transaction and the VC took the major portion of the money, they say. The investigators say the date the supplier withdrew the money and the VC and the deputy registrar depositing it in their accounts are same.

BSMMU Deputy Registrar Kazi Ebadullah told The Daily Star, "I don't know anything about the VC taking bribe. And the allegations brought against me are false, baseless, and fabricated. There is conspiracy behind this. I have been carrying out my service honestly for 14 years and there is no question of taking bribe."

"As I possess no power to have anything done, there is no point in giving me bribe. Executive power lies with the VC and the registrar," he added.

"I think many things were not done legally and in accordance with the rules regarding purchase, appointment and promotion," Kazi Ebadullah admitted.

There are also allegations against some members of the purchase committee, some administrative officers and doctors who became beneficiaries out of the matters.

"In matters of purchase the main responsibility lies upon the VC, pro-VC (finance), and the treasurer. The central purchase committee in fact doesn't have any responsibility other than being used as post office. They only forward the proposal of technical committee to the VC," said Prof Mannan, former head of the 27-member central purchase committee.

"The committee can only add or decrease the numbers of equipment to a certain level. But the central purchase committee has no jurisdiction to deny the proposal made by the technical committee," he added.

Apart from these, some officials realised about Tk 1 crore in the name of renovating BSMMU on the occasion of a supposed 'visit' by the Saudi health minister during the alliance government rule. In reality, existence of the renovation work was not traced anywhere at that time and the Saudi minister never showed up.

"We didn't mention anything about bribery incident in our report as we didn't have any eyewitnesses. But we knew that there was bribery in the process of purchasing," said an investigator of the university-formed probe body asking not to be named.

The investigators also say the matter of partisan political influence behind appointments could not be clarified due to lack of clear evidence. There has been a nexus maintained between Hadi and some others influential persons in and out of the university including AZM Zahid Hossain and Khaleda Zia's assignment officer Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal.

Hadi, Zahid and Firoz were leaders of BNP-backed Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) and manipulated their power in health sector.

There are scores of allegations of corruption, irregularities and misuse of power against Zahid and Firoz. Interestingly, Zahid also won first prize in a lottery through corruption.

Both Zahid and Firoz, who have been absconding, were sentenced to 13 and 10 years imprisonment respectively for amassing wealth beyond known sources of income and concealing information from ACC.

 

 

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[ALOCHONA] Taka 186 Crore stolen by Roads and Highways Department

Tk 186 crore gobbled up from 2 toll centres

ACC to sue 36 Roads & Highways staff

Staff Correspondent

 

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday approved filing of two cases against 36 staff of the Roads & Highways Department (RHD) for embezzling Tk 185.91 crore meant for the state coffers.

An ACC probe carried out as part of the measures against institutional corruption found that the RHD employers and officials had skimmed the sums after collecting those as tolls for Tongi-Ashulia highway and Meghna and Meghna-Gomati bridge through fake money receipts or without any receipt.

Of the amount embezzled, Tk 174.35 crore was collected at Meghna and Meghna-Gomati toll point in between 2002 and 2006 while Tk 11.56 crore at Tongi-Ashulia in between 2005 and 2006.

"It might take a day or two more to complete the preparations and file cases," ACC Director General (admin) Col Hanif Iqbal said during a routine press briefing at the ACC headquarters.

“If the investigation finds involvement of more people, action will be taken against them as well," he added.

The ACC probe also gathered that staff of the private firm in charge of computerised toll operation and maintenance of Meghna and Meghna-Gomati bridge used to delete toll data from computers and sometimes keep the systems shut to help the RHD staff in the misappropriation.

The cases will be filed under sections 409, 109, and 34 of penal code and 5 (2) of the corruption prevention act 1947.

The communications ministry had moved to find out if there were any financial irregularities after toll collection from the bridge and highway rose significantly with the caretaker government taking over early last year.

TONGI-ASHULIA
Sixteen RHD staff including three superintendent engineers and seven deputy department engineers are likely to be charged in the case to be filed for graft in toll collection on Tongi-Ashulia road.

A deputy assistant engineer, four ward supervisors and an office assistant might also be named accused.

A six-member committee formed by the communications ministry to investigate the allegations found that Tk 12.52 crore of toll money was embezzled in each of the years 2005 and 2006.

The ministry enquiry also yielded that during the same period Tk 3.43 lakh was embezzled a day while Tk 1.02 crore a month.

The RHD began charging tolls for the Tongi-Ashulia highway in May 2005. Before that, the work would be leased out to private firms.

The amount of tolls collected rose by more than double last year while the number of vehicles using the highway in 2005 and 2006 was only 19.12% and 11.50% less than that in 2007.

The tolls realised in 2005 and 2006 totalled Tk 3.98 crore and Tk 5.56 crore against standard estimates of Tk 9.23 crore and Tk 13.84 crore.

The ACC probe found that Tk 4.24 crore and Tk 7.32 crore were embezzled in those years, sources said.

After the military-backed interim administration took office the rate of toll collection shot up to Tk 4.93 lakh from Tk 1.49 lakh a day.

MEGHNA AND MEGHNA-GOMATI
Twenty-one people including one from Bromas Joint Venture, the private firm overseeing the computerised toll collection for the bridge, are likely to be charged in the case to be filed for causing a loss of Tk 174.35 crore to the government.

A former superintendent engineer, an incumbent superintendent engineer, three deputy divisional engineers, nine deputy assistant engineers and six work supervisors (toll collectors) might also be accused by the anti-graft body.

The investigation revealed that the RHD staff in question, mostly posted at the toll plaza since 2002, used fake money receipts or no receipt in realising the money they pocketed. They also did not register the actual number of vehicles that crossed the bridge.

According to the ACC probe, Tk 20.87 crore, Tk 43.29 crore, Tk 42.03 crore, Tk 37.68 crore and Tk 28.10 crore were embezzled at the plaza in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Sources said the number of vehicles using the bridge in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 was 35.66%, 30.04%, 25.37%, 19.12% and 11.50% less than that in 2007.

 

 


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[mukto-mona] The perilous U.S. economy and its impact on November 4 election

The perilous U.S. economy and its impact on November 4 election

 

A.H. Jaffor Ullah

 

The U.S. economy is probably in a recession going into the summer months of 2008.  No economists worth his salt could predict how long this downturn in economy would last.  But one thing is for sure.  The recession would put many workers out of job and this would bring dissension among many voters.  The voting records of Americans indicate that the party which is in power in an election year when downturn in economy takes place normally loses the election.  Therefore, Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate, will have an uphill battle to say the least.  The odds are stacking up against him.  The Americans normally consider the "pocketbook issue" as a major deciding factor when choosing their leader.  This year won't be a different one, I believe.

 

American economy was in a robust state when George W. Bush assumed the leadership in late January 2001.  Contrary to popular belief, the Democratic leaders, Bill Clinton and Al Gore, were very successful in their role as the stewards of this great nation.  The computer industries flourished allover the West in the late 1980s and we saw how the "Information Highway," which used to be a buzzword for Internet, was established in America in the beginning of Clinton years.  The productivity of American workers increased many-folds; consequently, the economy flourished throughout Clinton years. 

 

President George W. Bush therefore inherited a healthy economy.  But sadly, in the last seven and a half years the economy soured because of Bush-Cheney's stewardship that lead to shrinking of economy.  Thanks to America's involvement in Iraq War, which persistently drained a huge amount of dollars.  Also, both the energy cost and the price of the ordinary foodstuffs had skyrocketed making many Americans vulnerable to this downturn in economy. 

 

We have witnessed how George W. Bush's popularity had gone down in the last two years.  Even John McCain is maintaining a safe distance from him.  Excepting a fund raising event to benefit Republican candidates who will be contesting on November 4, 2008 election I am yet to see George W. Bush campaigning for Senator McCain.  The Republican strategists know for sure in which direction the political wind is blowing allover America.  Therefore, it is a safer bet not to allow George W. Bush come anywhere near Senator McCain; never mind his campaigning for the Republican candidate for the White House or the Congress.  Whatever little chance Senator McCain has to win the election, it will be reduced considerably, if either Bush or Cheney becomes active and starts campaigning for Senator McCain.  On the contrary, if the economy was robust, we would have seen the McCain campaign using Bush and Cheney in the battleground states such as Colorado, Missouri, Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, etc., to spread McCain's messages, which are essentially inline with the Republican Party.

 

How bad is the economy?  For a quick answer you may have to watch the evening news or visit financial channels such CNN's money segment, MSCNBC, or Nightly Business News (Public Broadcasting System's financial program).  One may also read the Wall Street Journal, the defender of America's capitalistic system.  The liberal newspaper establishments those that are great critics of the Bush Administration such as New York Times and Washington Post are also printing news stories delineating the economic malaise confronting America and how these are impacting ordinary households all across this great republic.

 

Some pundits will be much eager to point out that the housing booms that was started when the technology stocks once the darling of the Wall Street in the late 1990s was plummeted in early 2000s when Bush and Cheney was elected to man the nation and its economy. 

 

Come to think of it, Bush's much vaunted the building of "Ownership Society" in America was the leading cause of the boom in housing prices.  Many critics of Dr. Alan Greenspan, who was the chairman of Federal Reserve for too long are willing to point out that the easy monetary policy of the Federal Reserve was the root cause of the housing boom in America, which led to sub-prime lending that did enormous harm to the banking sector.  The banks became too greedy while they lent money to millions of Americans who would not qualify to borrow money in ordinary times.  But mind you, under Bush-Cheney's stewardship of U.S. economy, the housing market took for a wild ride.  The housing prices in many coastal cities especially in California, New York City, Boston, etc., were increasing at 5-10% clip every year in the last decade but only to see the valuation plummeted when the economy headed south in the last 2 years.

 

Add to this malaise the inflationary pressure both the everyday agricultural commodities and fuel prices are exerting on ordinary Americans who are surely feeling the pinch.  The global economy is also feeling the pressure due to inflation in petroleum products and agro-commodities.  The price of crude petroleum had risen from $ 50-60 to $ 147 in the last three years.  The price of corn also rose sharply along with rice and wheat.  Some economists think that the U.S. corn producers are demanding higher prices because of the increased demand coming from bio-fuel industries that are using corn to make alcohols to be used in blending gasoline for U.S. domestic market.  These days, it is not uncommon to see the petrol pump (gasoline outlet in the U.S.) selling gas-o-hol (10% alcohol blended gasoline or petrol) at the pump to cut down the gasoline price.  This diversion of corn production away from traditional crop production from food is applying inflationary pressure on staple prices.

 

The ordinary Americans are tightening their belt too as the economy is souring fast.  For a change the housing market is heading south.  The number of unsold house is increasing, which is exacerbating the problem of falling housing prices due to excess inventory.  There is no sign that housing market is becoming healthy anytime soon. 

 

These days Americans are not buying merchandises as they used to; therefore, the global economy will follow in the footsteps of America.  One look at the economy of China will illustrate the global nature of world economy.  One more personal observation is that the malls of America are less crowded now.  In the third week of July 2008, I was visiting San Diego, an affluent coastal city that is home to many young professionals.  There too, I did not see bustling malls.  I read in financial press that as the nation is experiencing recession,; consequently, many Americans are defaulting on credit cards payment.  This is a harbinger for more bad news to come.

 

Many Americans are angry knowing that the economy is souring, rapidly.  This severe economic downturn would surely impact the fresh college graduates.  In a booming economy, the new graduates normally get an offer from prospective employer.  But the situation will be worse in coming months. 

 

Taken all the bad news on economic front this much could be said that economic issues will be in the forefront of presidential campaign.  I read this morning that both Senator Obama and Senator McCain have turned their focus on economy.  The Republican presidential hopeful, Senator McCain, is now changing his position on payroll taxes for Social Security, which drew a sharp rebuke Monday (July 28, 2008) from conservatives after he signaled an openness to a higher payroll tax, contrary to previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind.  Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Obama on the same day blamed "irresponsible decisions" by the Bush administration and Wall Street for the country's economic woes as the White House said the budget deficit would soar to stratospheric heights next year.  Therefore, we could see how the two leading candidates are positioning themselves to address the malaise that confronts ordinary Americans.

 

The November election for the White House is shaping up nicely and it is for sure the economic issues will dominate the campaign.  In both 2000 and 2004, the economy was in sound footing; therefore, the candidates did not fight over pocketbook issues. In 2004 when Senator Kerry lost the election to George W. Bush, the issue that dominated the campaign was national security.  But this year, the national security issue took the backseat.  It is the economy that took the center stage.  Will the Americans consider Senator Obama a good steward of the economy?  Or is it Senator Obama?  

 

Tighten your seatbelt.  There will be a lot more coming in the next three months.  The election is barely less then 100 days from now.  There is no telling how the public opinions may shape up as economy sours precipitously.

-----------------------------

A.H. Jaffor Ullah, a researcher and a columnist, writes from New Orleans, USA

 

      

 

             

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[mukto-mona] Solar energy trials

 
Indian efforts in the arena of solar energy are far from adequate but are appropriate for a country with comparatively low per capita GDP, although cost of living is low.
In this connection, I would like Mr Mehul Kamdar to consider whether wein India can afford to apply renewables in application is the USA.

The following are two news items in today's Financial Express on solar energy.
SR

Solar power in the deserts of Rajasthan and Gujarat by C R Bhattacharjee 29 Jul 08 (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Solar-power-in-the-deserts-of-Rajasthan-and-Gujarat/341524/)
India is blessed with plenty of sun as is evident from high solar irradiation, technically termed as insolation. Yield of energy from solar photo-voltaic (SPV) system varies from 4-7 kwhr/day per kw of installation at different places on average throughout the year. In Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh and Leh in Kashmir, insolation is very good to signify high-energy output.
Despite its large potential, India has been lagging in solar power generation on account of a number of factors, an important one being the absence of a policy that encourages feed-in-tariff. Now that it has been introduced, it has paved the way for a good take off. This is indicated from applications submitted within 3 months of the policy declaration for grid connected power plants to be eligible for higher feed-in-tariff. Against the stipulated capacity of 50 mw during the 11th Plan, entrepreneurs have come up with proposals exceeding 2,000 mw involving investments of about Rs 40,000 crore and the government is also revising the target to 1,000 mw. Currently, grid connected capacity is less than 3 mw, though the capacity of combined installations including rural electrification, street lights, pumping sets etc are above 120 mw. Solar Energy Parks in line with technology parks or Wind Energy Farms will give a further boost to SPV.
Notwithstanding the potentiality of SPV energy and the potential of a new set of industries to grow, based on this technology, the high capital cost, which is almost four times the thermal power, is still an impediment. Feed-in-tariff as recently declared, very low maintenance & operation cost and obligations imposed by regulatory commissions on compulsory purchase of renewable energy by utilities will address all deterrents effectively. Global endeavour through R&D and experience of bulk application are reasons for lowering capital cost. It is a silver lining since this, coupled with incentives in the tariff, enables investment on solar power projects to show positive returns with pay back period varying between 7-9 years that was hitherto known as unremunerative and unaffordable.
Experts foresee that within ten years, the price of solar energy will be very close to that of conventional power. In India, adverse elements are exerting high pressure on growth of renewable energy and amongst them solar power potential is highest to ensure energy security.
It may be pertinent here to discuss about great roles that states like Rajasthan and Gujarat can play in the development of SPV energy. These states are already steps ahead to declare incentive based feed-in-tariff and inviting investors to set up SPV power plants. Desert would be ideal for setting up these plants with high insolation levels that can be augmented further through tracking technology to produce as much as 8.5-9.0 kwhr/day/kw of installations. It will be a good gesture to allow 2% interest subsidy, considering most backward areas with promising potential of generating thousands of mw of SPV power in lands which have no other gainful utilisation. The amount involved is nominal on a reducing scale till the loan is repaid.
Economic gains out of power plants and other activities will be much higher than amounts given on interest subsidy and feed-in-tariff. A forward looking step could result in Rajasthan and Gujarat to be biggest solar energy hubs in the world. Global Energy NetWork Institute (GENI) in its publication on Thar desert visualises prospects of 25.87 X103 TWH of annual energy output.
Estimates for a 100 mw plant indicates SPV schemes to be viable for earning profit after comfortably carrying out all debt service obligations. Adequate surplus on funds deployed by investors is generated to pay dividend and/or building up reserves even after rolling back of the feed-in-tariff to the normal Rs 6 as usual rate after 10 years. Both the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat must have a very aggressive outlook in this matter to generate SPV power in the desert for ensuring best return on land having no productivity, to export power, earn revenue and contribute substantially to meet the power demand of the country keeping in view potential is 20 mw per sq km. The desert offers scopes to generate more than 6,00,000 mw of clean power. Knowing fully well, preparations for setting up a 100 mw plant in the desert will take 5 years' time the process should start now as joint venture with private participation without any delay.
—The writer is an energy consultant. crbhatt@ vsnl.com...
>>
Focus on wind power generation by Ashok  B Sharma 29 Jul 08 (http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Focus-on-wind-power-generation/341522/)
India is the fourth largest wind power producer in the world after Germany, US and Spain. Over the last decade, significant progress was made in harnessing wind for power generation across the world, particularly in Europe, US and India. Wind energy has emerged as the most promising renewable energy technology. Wind power installation capacity worldwide has crossed 78,200 mw, with about 48,000 mw capacity in Europe, 11,600 mw capacity in the US and 7,844.52 mw capacity in India.
The development of the wind power sector in the country was primarily due to the technology imported from Europe, which is more suited for European conditions. Machines meant for lower wind regimes—wind class II and III as per International Electro-technical Committee classification—are finding their way to India. In the recent times, however, there have been some attempts to develop Indian designs and technologies suited to local conditions, but most of the wind turbines and components produced are for exports, rather than for deployment in the country.
According to the union ministry for new and renewable energy, in 2006-07, indigenously produced wind turbines valued at $250 million were exported to the US, Europe, China, Brazil and Australia. Wind turbine blades valued at $25 million were exported to Germany, China, Spain and the US. In the year 2007-08, till December 31, 2007, indigenously produced wind turbines valued at $425 million were exported to the US, Australia, Brazil, Spain, Portugal etc. Wind turbine blades valued at $50 million were exported to Germany, China and Spain. According to a gross estimate, the exports of wind turbines and components would be around $900 million in 2007-08.
Wind electric generators are being manufactured in the country by a dozen manufacturers through joint venture or under licenced production or through subsidiaries of foreign companies under licenced production. Some Indian companies are manufacturing wind electric generators with their own technology. The level of indigenisation of the technology has been only to the level of 50%. The current annual production capacity of indigenous wind turbine is about 2000 mw.
It seems that the wind power companies are more interested in export earnings than in expanding the wind power generation in the country. Both the state and central governments have plans to render various incentives to the sector. The policymakers should reassess the situation and see if the incentive regime could to reviewed to encourage the wind power companies to expand the generation capacity in the country.
According to official estimates, India has the capacity to generate 45,195 mw wind power, assuming 1% of land availability for wind farms each requiring 12 hectares/mw, in sites having wind power density in excess of 200 watts/sqm at 50 metre hub-height. But so far, only 7,844.52 mw wind power has been generated in the country. The Centre for Wind Energy Technology (C-WET) has found 216 sites in 13 states and union territories having wind power density in excess of 200 watt/sqm at 50 metre hub-height. These are 41 in Tamil Nadu, 38 in Gujarat, six in Orissa, 31 in Maharashra, 32 in Andhra Pradesh, seven in Rajasthan, eight in Lakshadweep, 26 in Karnataka, 17 in Kerala, seven in Madhya Pradesh, one each in West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar and Uttarakhand.
The wind power companies should, therefore, take up the opportunity for expanding the power generation capacity in the country, rather than concentrating on exports. Wind power generation is eco-friendly, as long it does not destroy forest cover. It can substitute the use of fossil fuel to a great extent.





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[ALOCHONA] I Do Not Know This Bangladeshi Culture

I DO NOT KNOW THIS BANGLADESHI CULTURE

 

The music was blaring so loudly that I could not talk to the next person. The couples were swinging violently to the tune. I was way back of the room and the words I heard of the MC were not very clear. I could not figure out if she was speaking in Bangla, Hindi or English. Same was with case with the songs being played.

 

Earlier, arranging for the evening prayer was a challenge. We were given a spot by the side of the corner room where food was later served. The Adhan was called. A very small number responded.

 

A friend of mine sitting in my table simply made a comment: "It looks like we need to learn Urdu or Hindi to understand what is going on".

 

Other persons sitting in my table were two young men, one from Egypt and the other from Iran. Both second generation immigrants and fully Americanized. Both left the party long before food was served. I had lengthy and interesting conversation with them. One of them asked me if the ceremony was a typical Bangladeshi wedding.

 

Yes, I was attending the wedding ceremony of a Bangladeshi couple  both born in Bangladesh who came to the US very recently. 

 

I could not relate to any thing Bangladeshi or Islamic in any thing that I saw last night. Later when I explained my feelings and experience I was told that Bangladeshi weddings are like that now a days.

 

Marriage is one of the most important institution in our society and as such this is regarded as a time to acquire blessing and good wishes from the family members and friends. All I saw last night was indecent jokes, rough talks, loud music and vulgar dances.

 

Is this the way we want our children to start the new phase of their lives?

 

I have attended many weddings in this country where the guests were   from diverse ethnic backgrounds, though mostly from the Indian sub-continent. I am used to weddings starting with the recitation from the Quran with translation, proper arrangements for prayer, sober introduction of family members, good food, sophisticated music some times Bangla, Urdu or Hindi classics.  Besides Muslims, guests also include local American Christian and Hindus (both from India and Bangladesh).

 

Yet last night the huge hall was mostly full of Banladeshi Muslims (with the exception of the two guests I just mentioned).    

 

I would request members of this forum who are dedicated member of all the scores of Bangladeshi associations to realize that in our zeal to hold on to Bangladeshi nationalism and our disregard for Islam we are losing our children to a cheap form of culture which is most unhealthy and far removed from the decent simple Bangladeshi culture we should be proud of.

 

I fully understand that many people in our society are not very serious about Islam but to the best of my knowledge most people are very proud of our language. I left the wedding hall with this thought in my mind: why are our children turning to this cheap, vulgar, loud popular Bollywood (I was told that this is what it is called) culture. Where is the Bangla culture?  I do not know this Bangladeshi culture.

 

Aziz Ul Huq

July 24, 2008

 



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[ALOCHONA] Major Political Parties should yield more that 10% MP nomination to NRB

Dear All,

 

I like to remind us that this is an election year in Bangladesh and we need to involve in politics to reinvent the wheel of Bangladesh economy and social justice.  As I have said many times before that if you want to help Bangladesh,  you need to be policy maker.  Just suggesting and provide speeches will not lead anywhere.

 

I like to urge major political parties to yield at least 10% nomination to young blood which will lead healthy politics in Bangladesh.  I also prefer expatriates to join with the major political parties to compete in this upcoming MP election in Bangladesh.

 

As most of you know that there are lots of competent NRBs (non-resident Bangladeshi) who are working for Bangladesh for better future.  Now its time to give them a chance to serve the country.  I believe that this will be a win-win opportunity for Bangladesh and the major political parties.  This will bring new ideas and new strategies to develop Bangladesh in economical and social development.

 

I also like to point out that majority of our political party leaders are senior and we have to increase the educated and competent young participation in the political process.  This will yield great success in the years to come.

 

Please join with me to call major poltical parties to yield more that 10% MP nomination to educated and competent young leaders/workers (i.e. NRB) in the upcoming MP election in Bangladesh.

 

God Bless Bangladesh!

 

Regards,

M. M. Chowdhury (Mithu)

Director, Change Bangladesh Organization, USA

www.changebangladesh.org

 

CEO, Amreteck LLC, USA

A Pharmaceuticals Service Company

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www.amreteckpharma.com

 

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